The race saw Gawthorne fly to Ibiza to compete in her age group at the World Triathlon Duathlon Championships. Along with 26 other athletes, she completed a 4.8km run, followed by a 19km bike ride, with a further 3km run to finish. 

Gawthorne crossed the line with a time of 1:15:17. She finished one minute and six seconds ahead of the second-place competitor and was crowned World Age Group Champion (category 40-44 Female AG Sprint). Conversely, in 2022, Gawthorne took bronze at the same event.

“I am so happy; I really didn’t expect this one,” Gawthorne said in a statement. “It was amazing to become European Champion, but this is a dream of dreams to go one step further, taking a world champion title in my age group amongst the best of the best in the world.”

A recipe for success

Alongside two major career highlights, Gawthorne is also celebrating 20 years as a vegan in 2023. 

Crediting her cruelty-free lifestyle as having a hugely positive impact on her athleticism, the world champion always competes in clothing with pro-vegan messaging emblazoned on it. PETA UK and “Go Vegan” logos feature prominently, as do images from Veganuary and the Vegan Society. 

Speaking exclusively with Plant Based News, Gawthorne revealed that her dietary race prep ahead of the World Championships included whole foods and a vegan pizza.

“I normally opt for pasta but all the restaurants were so busy that pizza was all I could get,” she explained. “But the pizza gives a similar carb boost as pasta or rice the night before a race.”

Gawthorne says that she turned vegan for animal welfare reasons and that improved sporting performance was simply a nice benefit. In addition, her advocacy and prowess have also inspired many GB teammates, plus overseas competitors, to go vegan.

Chasing more vegan athletic victories

With two victories in the bag, Gawthorne plans to enjoy a period of softer training before going on to focus on running. She intends to chase new personal bests across 5k and 10k races.

The post Vegan Duathlon Athlete Crowned World Champion appeared first on Plant Based News.

The ultramarathon saw athletes racing around the Zion National Park in Utah, in the shadows of towering sandstone cliffs. Considered a difficult route, only experienced ultra-runners with a half-ultramarathon already under their belt were eligible to compete.

Meyer – a documentary filmmaker and photographer – completed the run with support from both his partner and coach. Upon finishing the race, he took to social media to thank event organizers, and express gratitude for the opportunity to learn more about himself during the run.

Ultra-running as a vegan

Discussing his five years as a vegan, Meyer notes that it is now fundamental to his training. Moreover, it plays a crucial part in everything he does before, during, and after a race. 

“On the physical side, ultrarunning is a very demanding sport. Training becomes a cycle of physical stress and recovery, the quality of which are the variables that determine how much I can grow and improve as an athlete,” Meyer told Plant Based News. 

“Eating a plant-based whole foods diet has allowed me to increase physical stress in training, and simultaneously, recover faster. This is due in part to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the food, which lead to reduced muscle damage.”

In recent years, the fitness and health benefits of plant-based nutrition have become more widely understood. If animal protein was once considered the only option for serious contenders, a slew of vegan athletes now challenge the misconception, many of whom seek to crush outmoded stereotypes.

Finding a higher purpose

For Meyer, his veganism also unlocked his discovery of a purpose. He claims that ending animal exploitation is his calling and that as an athlete, he represents an alternative viewpoint that can help achieve this.

“In a world where billions of animals are killed for food every year, and billions of marketing dollars are poured into campaigns linking the consumption of animal products to masculinity and improved athletic performance, my running provides a counter-narrative – that we can thrive and compete as plant-powered athletes,” he said.

This idea of disrupting the status quo provides extra motivation when a race inevitably starts to get tough, Meyer says. He adds that if his athletic performance changes just one person’s opinion of veganism, that’s enough to keep pushing.

“Ending animal exploitation is my purpose. That purpose fosters motivation. That motivation helps me endure a greater perception of effort. And that leads to better performance,” the Zion 100km winner concluded.

The post Vegan Ultra-Runner Wins Zion 100KM Desert Trail Race appeared first on Plant Based News.

The two first collaborated in 2020 when Green Cuisine was the team’s official sponsor. Now, in the run-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, they are curating an educational program together.

Dubbed Get Set to Go Green, Team GB says the program aims to educate children, parents, and teachers “on how easy, tasty, and nutritious it can be to incorporate plant-based options into everyday meals.”

Notably, the program aims to provide more than 25,000 primary school teachers in the UK with 18 downloadable multimedia resources. These will include videos and empowering challenges for children aged seven to 11 to participate in.

“We are incredibly proud to continue working with Green Cuisine as we head towards Paris 2024,” Tim Ellerton, commercial director at Team GB said in a statement. “Environmental sustainability is a huge focus for us. We look forward to working together to showcase the environmental benefits of opting for plant-based foods, as well as empowering children to build green, healthy habits.”

Both Team GB and Paralympics GB’s youth division will be instrumental in delivering the Get Set to Go Green initiative. Athletes are expected to talk about the benefits of plant-based foods as part of a balanced diet.

Children want plant-based options

Birds Eye has identified the potential to support healthy habits in children. A survey of 1,000 youngsters aged six to 12 found that 34 percent have asked adults for a meat-free meal. Furthermore, the Birds Eye Green Paper Report found that almost all (92 percent) of those surveyed believe that everybody should help look after the planet.

Previous unrelated research also points to children’s openness to vegan living. In 2021, BBC Good Food found that eight percent of children aged between five and 16 ate a plant-based diet. In addition, another 15 percent said that they wanted to.

Team GB athletes drive the plant-based message

Acting as a stereotype-busting partner in the educational initiative, Team GB’s athletes’ performances are intended to inspire others to strive for greatness too.

“Team GB athletes perform to the highest standards possible. We want consumers to recognize, through this partnership, how the nutritional value of plant-based foods can help them perform to their highest standards in their day-to-day lives as well,” Victoria Westwood of Green Cuisine said in a statement.

The post British Olympic Team To Promote Plant-Based Eating To Kids, Parents, And Teachers appeared first on Plant Based News.

In her last major competition, the World Championships in Romania in 2022, Gawthorne maxed out at bronze medal. But this year’s win comes as Gawthorne reached another important milestone: 20 years as a vegan.

Aptly, Gawthorne completed the race – which consisted of a 4.7km run, a 23km cycle, and a final 2.8km run – in a uniform reading “go vegan.”

The power of plants

Crediting her plant-based diet as playing a “significant part” in her gold medal victory, she revealed why veganism and athleticism go hand-in-hand.

“I am so happy! I’ve worked so hard with my run and bike coaches for this and it’s just the most amazing feeling and the best-ever reward,” Gawthorne, also a nutritionist and author, told Plant Based News.

“I love that it’s sparked so many stories and communications with me about veganism too – it’s my 20th veganniversary so what better way to celebrate that than with a European win to prove that veganism has a very valid place for supporting peak performance in sport, fitness, and athletics.”

Gawthorne announced her gold medal win on Instagram, making sure to include “vegan,” “vegan strong,” and “vegan athlete” hashtags.

Influencing teammates to try plant-based

Having noted improvements in her own performance and health, Gawthorne has encouraged her teammates to try a plant-based diet for themselves. Offering advice and access to easily digestible information, she claims that many have transitioned to veganism.

In a further bid to make plant-based nutrition accessible, Gawthorne runs vegan food company Bravura Foods.

Gold medal performances from vegan athletes

Gawthorne is not alone in delivering inspiring sporting performances on a plant-based diet. 

From bodybuilders to tennis players, racing drivers and almost every sport in between, vegan athletes are becoming increasingly mainstream. So much so that Japan faced calls to make catering options in the 2021 Tokyo Olympian Village all plant-based. The move was requested to give sports people access to “clean” protein sources.

The post 20-Year Vegan Athlete Takes Gold In European Duathlon Championships appeared first on Plant Based News.

The announcement came just two weeks after Puma also ditched the material after becoming impressed by a vegan synthetic alternative.

Nike initially stated that its Tiempo Legend Elite football boot will switch to a fully synthetic upper. However, the brand went on to confirm that it is taking kangaroos out of its supply chain altogether.

Similarly to Puma, Nike claims that it will favor a new synthetic material that offers “a better performance solution and replaces the use of kangaroo leather.”

Kangaroo leather became popular with soccer boot manufacturers due to its supposed extra durability. This was assumed to improve performance, but cruelty-free alternatives appear to be just as, if not more, effective.

Fashion’s fading interest in kangaroo leather

Alongside Puma, Nike’s decision means that two of the largest buyers of kangaroo hides have now turned their back on the material.

High-end fashion names including Chanel, Gucci, and Prada have all rejected kangaroo leather from their portfolios.

‘Kangaroos are not shoes’

Animal activists have welcomed Nike’s news, particularly the Center for a Humane Economy (CHE).

Having launched its “Kangaroos Are Not Shoes” campaign in 2020, CHE called on major brands to stop creating demand for the deaths of more than two million kangaroos each year. It also specifically targeted Nike, by erecting billboards close to its Oregon headquarters in 2021.

CHE considers recent developments within the sportswear sector to be significant steps forward.

“Nike’s announcement that it will end the use of kangaroo skins for its athletic shoes is a seismic event in wildlife protection, and tremors will be felt all over the world. Especially in Australia, where the mass commercial slaughter of kangaroos occurs,” Wayne Pacelle, president of the Center for a Humane Economy, said in a statement. 

“Non-animal-based fabrics are athletically and morally superior. In March, we’ve seen two of the three largest brands in athletic shoes pledge to end their use of kangaroo skins and to bring relief to these iconic marsupials in Australia.”

Adding credence to the “athletic superiority” of synthetics, it has been reported that out of the 172 goals scored in the 2022 football World Cup, 164 were attributed to players wearing synthetic or cow leather (most were synthetic).

Adidas remains the last major buyer of kangaroo leather, with CHE stating that it must follow Nike and Puma’s examples. It also calls on Australia to shut down its “ruthless commercial kangaroo-killing industry,” though insiders are putting up a fight.

The kangaroo leather sector fights back

With multiple major buyers dropping kangaroo leather, the Australian industry appears to be panicking. It has released a statement claiming that any culling bans could lead to overpopulation.

Commercial hunting of kangaroos is legal in Australia, as are “conservation culls,” designed to control the population. If neither is allowed to continue, industry insiders claim that this will create a need for non-commercial culling. This, they say, will impact animal welfare.

In another attempt to secure support, Ray Borda, president of the Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia, spoke to the Guardian. He said that kangaroos (for leather) are a sustainable option.

“They emit less methane, require less water, place less pressure on grazing lands, and don’t require energy to capture and contain [as cattle and sheep].”

The post Nike Follows In Puma’s Footsteps By Ditching Leather Made From Kangaroos appeared first on Plant Based News.

Puma debuted a fully vegan football boot in 2022, dubbed the KING Platinum 21 Vegan. However, other shoes in the KING range continued to utilize kangaroo hides for their uppers.

Puma claims to be so impressed by the performance of its vegan leather that it is discontinuing kangaroo leather entirely. Accordingly, the sportswear giant has pledged to phase it out by the end of 2023.

Puma’s vegan leather

Extensive testing proved that K-BETTER outperforms traditional kangaroo hide for football boot construction. In fact, K-BETTER beat the animal-derived version across the board, ranking higher for durability, touch, and comfort.

“The Puma KING is Puma’s most iconic franchise in football and has always stood for using the best materials and the latest in innovation. Over the years we have seen the boot evolve and become ingrained in on pitch and off pitch football culture. From the pitches to the terraces,” Peter Stappen, lead product line manager for Puma said in a statement.

 “The new KING takes the franchise to the next-level and offers a super-soft upper with optimal stretch resistance for ultimate touch and control benefits.” 

Made using a minimum of 20 percent recycled materials, K-BETTER consists mostly of a nylon microfiber blend. It is used in conjunction with a lightweight plastic sole. This is designed to create a soccer boot that is light and as geared towards top performance as its predecessors. The original kangaroo KINGs were worn by the likes of footballing legends Pelé and Diego Maradona.

Wearing the new wave of Puma’s vegan leather boots will be Arsenal football club midfielder Granit Xhaka, amongst others. 

In addition, a tailored-for-women fit is available. Pro-footballers Ingrid Engen and Lena Lattwein are among those to be debuting the shoes on the pitch. 

Save the kangaroos

In 2021, Gavin Polone – director of Gilmore Girls – released a short film on kangaroos being hunted and killed for their skins.

In it, Polone directly targets Nike. As a brand, it continues to use kangaroo leather and contributes to the deaths of more than two million of the wild animals each year.

Puma’s decision to take kangaroo leather off the KING roster could be impactful. Specifically, because there’s scope for other large names to now follow suit.

The post Puma Ditches Kangaroo Leather For Better-Performing Vegan Alternative appeared first on Plant Based News.

One of these is Noah Hannibal, an Australian powerlifter who holds two national bench press records. He also competed in Mr America in an all-vegan team called Vegan Strong Plantbuilt, taking home a gold medal in the sport. 

Hannibal has been vegan since 1991, and claims to have never eaten meat in his life. He made the switch from vegetarianism after learning about the dairy and egg industries aged 15. 

He decided to pursue strength training in the mid-90s after a bodybuilder he knew was mocking vegans for being “weak.” Hannibal challenged him to an arm wrestle, and spent six months training before “smashing his hand on the table.” 

Hannibal spoke to Plant Based News (PBN) about his career, breaking down stereotypes, and the challenges he’s faced along the way.

Overcoming misconceptions about veganism

A well-planned plant-based diet has been shown by numerous studies to be optimal for human health. But there remains a common misconception that vegans are weak, and generally less fit than meat-eaters. 

“When I first got into powerlifting, a national coach told me to go and eat a steak and come back once I’d eaten it,” he tells PBN. “And then I just started lifting and competing and doing well.”

This misconception is largely due to the fact that many people mistakenly believe that protein only comes from meat. This is despite the fact that protein deficiency in veganism is exceptionally rare. Numerous medical professionals have stated that fiber deficiency among meat eaters is the real issue. 

According to plant-based physician Michael Greger, it is very unlikely that the average vegan will be protein deficient if they eat enough calories in a day.

Of course, athletes generally need more than the average vegan. But this is perfectly easy to maintain on a plant-based diet, Hannibal says. The bodybuilder aims to eat 200g a day, which he gets through foods like tofu, seitan, tempeh, and protein shakes.

Veganism has not only shown to be an acceptable diet for athletes, but also optimal as well. 

According to a 2021 study by the University of Berkeley, a plant-based diet can “help athletes improve their performance by decreasing weight, creating leaner bodies, and improving stamina.”

A separate study looked into whether a plant-based diet was detrimental to endurance and muscle strength. It found that vegans and meat-eaters had comparable physical activity levels, body mass index, percent body fat, lean body mass, and muscle strength. But it also discovered that vegans had significantly higher estimated VO2 max (the amount of oxygen the body can utilize during exercise), and submaximal endurance time to exhaustion.

Smashing records

Hannibal won his two bench pressing records in national drug-tested federations in Australia and America. 

One of the reasons he takes part in drug-tested competitions is because vegan athletes have often been accused of using steroids by competitors. Some people simply can’t believe anyone is able to compete on that level while eating a plant-based diet. 

Because of this, Hannibal, along with a number of other vegan athletes, has been accused of using fake weights or photoshopping pictures. 

“There’s always an excuse when people see a strong vegan,” he tells PBN. “But no one can argue with the national records. They’re just a good thing to have to show that you can be strong on a vegan diet.”

The future of vegan athleticism 

Hannibal competed alongside 20 other vegan athletes in the world’s largest vegan team in Mr America in Atlantic City in October. The team scored a total of 18 medals: eight first place, five second place and five third place. The team battled against mostly non-vegan athletes in bodybuilding, powerlifting, kettlebell sport, and CrossFit.

Hannibal believes that the misconceptions surrounding veganism and strength are changing, and that “more and more” people are becoming open to the idea. 

Vegan athleticism, he says, is a “good form of activism,” as it “opens minds and breaks down stereotypes that you can’t gain strength as a vegan.” 

The post This Vegan Powerlifter Was Accused Of Using Fake Weights And Steroids – Now He’s Smashing Records appeared first on Plant Based News.

The plant-based food brand has opened a concessions stand at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The huge location is where the Timberwolves’ home court can be found.

The stand offers basketball fans a range of meat-free snacks. It is also supported by a dairy-free ice cream concession. The two stands represent Wicked Kitchen’s first foray into sports partnerships.

“It’s an honor to provide our hometown team with a Wicked experience that fans will love and crave,” Pete Speranza, CEO of Wicked Kitchen said in a statement, referencing Wicked Kitchen’s US headquarters being in Minnesota. 

“We know our foods will quickly be fan favorites and on par with the amazing team this year. More and more players are moving to eating plant-based, and we want to give the fans the same opportunity.”

The Wicked Kitchen concession will be the first vegan food stand to be housed in the Target Center.

Game-day favorites, minus the meat

Wicked Kitchen has sought to tap into sports fans’ preferred courtside snacks, just without the inclusion of animal products. 

Confirmed menu items include chorizo bratwursts, a “gouda” burger, and a meatball sub sandwich. Ice cream fans can find a dessert-only stand in the Target Center, selling dairy-free stick and cone options. 

All items sold in the concessions can be ordered for service within the Club Level and VIP lounge.

Ryan Tanke, COO for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, said in a statement. “Wicked Kitchen is a wonderful addition to our concession lineup at Target Center, providing delicious and approachable plant-based options for our fans.”

“We are so excited to introduce Wicked Kitchen to Timberwolves fans this season.”

Wicked Kitchen’s partnership with the Minnesota Timberwolves comes shortly after the brand raised $20 million to further grow both its US and overseas presence. 

Are sports turning meat-free?

Soccer is another sport to have embraced meat-free promotions in recent months. 

Earlier this year, FC Barcelona Feminí revealed that it has secured a sponsorship deal with Spanish plant-based brand Heura Foods. In addition to serving meat-free foods at home matches, the deal will see the team promoting the benefits of plant-based eating to its fans.

Real Madrid also chose to work with Meatless Farm to curate plant-based menus for its players. It was hoped that the food would maximize performance and minimize injury recovery time. Meanwhile, UK Premier League team Liverpool FC is looking into similar initiatives while partnering with Quorn.

The post Wicked Kitchen Brings Plant-Based Food Stand To Minneapolis Basketball Court  appeared first on Plant Based News.

Sponsored by mycoprotein giant Quorn, the village will present a collection of food stalls offering vegan meals and sweet treats. All will refuel runners and encourage sustainable food choices from all attendees.

Event organizers have made efforts to increase the eco-credentials of the race in recent years. Notably, they instigated a ban on single-use plastic in 2019 and asked runners to refill bottles at water stations. 

Alongside, a partnership with Trees Not Tees allows runners to plant a tree in lieu of a finisher’s shirt.

The race takes 16,000 runners on a 13.1-mile route through four of London’s eight Royal Parks. They are Hyde Park, Green Park, St James’s Park, and Kensington Gardens. 

The new Plant-Based Food Village will be located in the start and finish location: Hyde Park.

“We’re very excited to launch our Plant-Based Food Village, presented by Quorn, at this year’s event. We want runners to explore plant-based options as a healthy, sustainable lifestyle choice that takes care of the planet around them,” Alun Mainwaring, head of events at The Royal Parks said in a statement. 

Why Quorn?

Royal Parks Half has officially declared Quorn as its “Sustainable Protein Partner.” This is owing to its carbon footprint, which is significantly lower than most animal proteins.

Quorn claims that its signature mycoprotein generates 0.7 kilograms of CO2 equivalent, per kilogram of the finished product. This is compared to UK beef mince coming in at 32 kilograms of CO2 equivalent and pork creating 11 kilograms. Chicken creates five kilograms of carbon emissions.

However, choosing Quorn doesn’t just reduce carbon emissions. A recent study suggests that swapping out conventional meat for Quorn’s mycoprotein could halve deforestation and cut methane emissions by 11 percent. 

But this will only happen if Quorn becomes a go-to choice for more consumers.

“We’re delighted to partner with Royal Parks Half Marathon this year and support the first ever Plant-Based Food Village,” Gill Riley, marketing director for Quorn said in a statement.

“It’s now more important than ever that shoppers make more sustainable food choices. So we can’t wait to share our delicious Quorn products with the runners and spectators to show them just how easy and tasty these choices can be.”

“The carbon footprint of Quorn’s mycoprotein is at least 35 times lower than beef mince and its water footprint is at least 16 times lower than pork – making it a great choice for runners and the planet alike.”

The post The Royal Parks Half Marathon To Host Its First Ever Plant-Based Food Village appeared first on Plant Based News.

Heura (which was founded in Barcelona) will work with the football club and its players to highlight the benefits of a plant-based diet.

Heura’s products are now being served at all of FC Barcelona’s home matches. The brand is also being promoted on LED screens around its Estadi Johan Cruyff home stadium. A pre-season friendly against Montpellier earlier this month was the official debut of Heura’s sponsorship.

The agreement comes as women’s football has been enjoying a huge surge in popularity, particularly following the 2022 European Championship. 

A meeting of Barcelonian minds

Heura’s sponsorship of FC Barcelona is the result of shared ambition and commitment to improve the world and drive equality within sport. It follows an impressive rise to prominence by the alt-meat start-up. It raised more than €4 million in under 12 hours of its crowdfunding campaign.

Giving credence to the brand’s claim that it is the fastest growing plant-based company in Europe, the successful raise fuelled Heura’s ambition to disrupt the food system with alternatives to animal meat.

“When you have a why you always find a how. Our partnership with FC Barcelona women’s team is another stepping stone towards challenging the status quo,” Marc Coloma, CEO and co-founder of Heura Foods, told Plant Based News.

He continued: “By allying with such an inspirational and determined club, we are bringing plant-based options to more and more people internationally. [We are] helping set new goals for the plant-based industry in general. This is just the beginning.”

The football club shared in a press statement: “The agreement between FC Barcelona and Heura Foods has been possible thanks to a series of common values.” It noted that these include “the commitment to innovation, effort, and teamwork and a shared desire to have a positive impact on society.”

“Both brands will work on different initiatives to promote a more sustainable food system globally while collaborating to give new impetus to women’s football.”

The initiatives are yet to be expanded on. However, they will include specifically created educational content to be shared through both parties’ channels. The content will aim to inform the public about how plant-based foods can complement their lives. But also, how they can be a sustainable substitution for animal meat and dairy.

Can football ever be plant-based?

The connection between football and vegan food is not unique to Barcelona. 

In March this year, German league champions VfL Wolfsburg secured support from Oatly. However, it bowed to dairy industry pressure to keep cow’s milk firmly on the menu. But there have been more successful attempts to connect plant-based living to one of the world’s favorite sports.

Forest Green Rovers has made headlines for its environmental approach to professional football. Fully vegan since 2015, the club is touted as the world’s first carbon-neutral team. This is due to a number of factors, like its electric van and solar-powered pitch floodlights. All of its players regularly eat plant-based food and green energy supplier, Ecotricity, is the main sponsor.

Elsewhere, plant-based meat manufacturer Meatless Farm partnered with Real Madrid to create a plant-forward performance diet for its players.

Similarly, Quorn and Liverpool FC are working together to bring plant-based options to home matches. They are also investigating the impact of meat-free foods on players’ recovery times.

The post Barcelona Football Club Signs Sponsorship Deal With Plant-Based Meat Brand appeared first on Plant Based News.

The Premier League team ended an 11-year relationship with its former sponsor The Metzer group, a specialist in infrastructure and construction.

The new sponsorship deal is worth one million shekels (around $300,000 USD). It has been funded by donations from Vegan Active, the activist element of Vegan Friendly.

Fans to be offered plant-based food

To celebrate the sponsor onboarding, HTA has announced that as of next season, only vegan food will be served in its VIP arena suites. This will form part of a wider joint strategy to promote plant-based living and healthy lifestyles. Both are considered solutions to the climate crisis and animal welfare concerns.

“In both cases, these are nonprofits that were founded out of love, and work constantly to reach new achievements,” Rami Cohen, chairman of Hapoel Tel Aviv said in a statement.

“Hapoel Tel Aviv is delighted by this important cooperation, which wants to bring a better future for all of us.”

Spreading the vegan message

HTA and Vegan Friendly are slated to be planning a number of events together. However, initial major changes to the team are being spearheaded by a change of uniform. Shirts will now carry the Vegan Friendly logo front and center.

In addition to wearing their sponsor on their chests, the team’s court and the arena will also be decked out in appropriate livery. Environmental and vegan messages will be displayed on courtside screens as well.

“The connection between Vegan Friendly and Hapoel Tel Aviv is natural and obvious,” Omri Paz, founder and CEO of Vegan Friendly said in a statement. 

“Both [Vegan Friendly] and the team are always looking for their next big achievement, to go beyond limits and to make the impossible possible.” 

Other key spectator sports, including football and rugby, have started making inroads into embracing veganism as well.

Tel Aviv: the ‘vegan capital of the world’

Israel’s second-largest city has been steadily increasing its prolific, and political, embrace of the vegan lifestyle. 

Thanks to its more than 400 meat-free restaurants, it is dubbed the “vegan capital of the world.” Further, Tel Aviv recently hosted what was billed as the world’s biggest vegan festival.

Paz wants to see the movement spread throughout the whole of Israel. He sees his sponsorship of HTA as a meaningful step in the right direction.

“Vegan Friendly is proud of the cooperation, which will raise the awareness of the vegan lifestyle and reduce animal-product diets for all Israelis so that together we will be able to create a better future here,” he said.

“We believe that high public awareness of the issue can bring about a change.”

The post Tel Aviv’s Premier League Basketball Team Is Now Sponsored By A Vegan Nonprofit appeared first on Plant Based News.

But while the move was made with sustainability in mind, it was met with widespread backlash. Namely from the dairy industry. Ultimately, VfL Wolfsburg was pressured into reversing its decision. 

But plant-based soccer teams do exist. Forest Green Rovers, for example, claims to be the world’s first carbon-neutral football club. It only serves players and fans vegan food. And, it’s thriving: in April, it was promoted to League One in the English Football League. 

Could VfL Wolfsburg follow suit and go plant-based? It’s complicated.

VfL Wolfsburg’s oat milk backlash

Back in March, VfL Wolfsburg first announced it was collaborating with plant-based brand Oatly. The dairy industry was furious.

Local dairy company Uelzena wrote to the club expressing its concern. A butter producer also threatened to boycott the club’s parent company Volkswagen altogether. (The German multinational automotive company also inspired backlash last year when it stopped serving its signature currywurst in the canteen at its Wolfsburg factory. Instead, it offered more meat-free options.)

Then, Germany’s farmers’ association started a smear campaign against Volkswagen over VfL Wolfsburg’s decision. (It’s worth noting that Volkswagen is based in, and part-owned by, Lower Saxony, the biggest agricultural state in the country, holding 11.8% shares in the company.) 

Eventually, VfL Wolfsburg gave into pressure. Now, instead of being the default as intended, oat milk is only offered on request.

Plant-based football is possible

Dale Vince, eco-entrepreneur and the chairman of Forest Green Rovers, says he’s not surprised at the backlash faced by VfL Wolfsburg. He recalls similar incidents when his own club went meat-free.

“Organizations that go plant-based will always receive backlash from farmers and dairy organizations with a vested interest,” he told Plant Based News. “People are entitled to their views, and many will want to protect their livelihoods.”

Vince took over Forest Green Rovers in 2010. At the time, it was facing bankruptcy. Gradually, as he built the club up, he slowly reduced the amount of meat that was served to players and fans. As a passionate vegan, he felt he had no alternative but to take animal products off the menu.

“On my first day of being the custodian of the club, I discovered our chef at the time serving up a huge beef lasagne and knew something had to change,” he explained. “I’d been vegetarian since my teens and a vegan for the last 20 years and had inadvertently become part of the meat trade. That was just not going to happen.”

First red meat was taken off the menu, which in itself generated a lot of press. Newspapers like The Sun ran sensationalist headlines about a “red meat ban,” but it actually helped to raise the club’s profile. After that, chicken came off the menu, followed by fish, and in 2015, everything was vegan.

“Fans didn’t disappear. In fact, we started bringing in people that were fans of our principles first, and football second, which was an unexpected bonus,” recalls Vince. “We still get the occasional ‘where’s your burger van’ or ‘stop eating our grass’ chant when our players get fouled from visiting fans, but that’s all part of the fun.”

He added: “We’ve had to add additional capacity to all of our kitchens and hospitality offerings.”

Oat milk is a more sustainable choice

Like VfL Wolfsburg, Forest Green Rovers partnered with Oatly on its dairy-free milk options.

Oat milk is better for the planet than cow’s milk. Drinking one glass of dairy milk a day contributes 229 kilograms to a person’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. But drinking the same amount of oat milk contributes just 65 kilograms.

VfL Wolfsburg teamed up with the United Nations on its Race to Zero initiative in 2020 to reduce its own emissions, and its attempt to move away from cow’s milk was part of that commitment.

 “A food system shift is urgently required for the sake of both people and the planet. Food production is responsible for a third of global GHG emissions – with more than half coming from animal production,” said Oatly spokesperson Lucy Hopkins-Parkinson.

“We’re really proud to support pioneers like Wolfsburg and Forest Green Rovers who should be commended for leading this change to a more plant-based diet,” she added. “Especially in the world of professional sports, where sadly it is not yet the norm.”

A plant-based future of sport

But the world of sport is changing, slowly. 

Footballers, like Chris Smalling, Héctor Bellerín, and Alex Morgan, for example, are speaking out about the benefits of a plant-based diet. And they’re also investing in the future of plant-based food. 

Last year, footballer Dele Alli invested in Next Gen Foods, and Smalling has also invested in plant-based brands. Last month, he even set up his own eco-friendly venture capital fund.

But when it comes to making club-wide changes, Vince acknowledges that it isn’t easy. However, he encourages more to “hold their nerve.”

“When I took Forest Green Rovers plant-based, there was no going back,” he said. “If anything, my single-mindedness should encourage others to do what we’ve shown is possible.”

This article was updated on August 1, 2022, to clarify that Volkswagen, not Vfl Wolfsburg, received backlash for introducing one vegetarian canteen. It was also updated to clarify that Lower Saxony holds 11.8 percent shares in Volkswagen.

The post Why Football Needs To Stand Up To Animal Agriculture And Embrace A Plant-Based Future appeared first on Plant Based News.

Activists conducted two nonviolent civil resistance activities by sitting in the road on known TdF routes. The groups drew parallels between the “mad race towards the annihilation of our society” and the endurance event itself.

DR carried out a similar protest at the French Open on June 3, citing similar environmental demands. Chief amongst them is for the government to commit to renovating all buildings to be more energy efficient by 2040.

DR was founded in April and has claimed 14 acts of civil disobedience to date.

Interrupting the Tour de France for maximum exposure

Nine DR members were arrested on July 12, after the 10th TdF stage was brought to a halt. Protestors sat in the road and forced the three-week race to stop. They wore t-shirts displaying the number of days left until the climate emergency is too far gone to rectify.

Flares were set off to inhibit rider visibility. This led French police to drag protesters off the tarmac to allow the race to resume. 

Professional cyclists were forced to pull up for 12 minutes, 21 miles from the end of the stage.

A second protest was conducted on July 17, with five activists arrested at stage 15 of the event. Racing did not stop.

“The reality is that the world towards which politicians are sending us is a world in which the Tour de France can no longer exist,” one protester said in a press statement. “We must act and enter into civil resistance today to save what remains to be saved.”

Cycling’s role in the climate crisis

Frequently touted as a natural way to reduce transportation emissions, cycling was discussed at COP26, albeit unofficially. It was notably absent from the transport day agenda on November 10.

However, factions within the $59.3 billion cycling industry take umbrage at the idea that bikes are an easy climate crisis fix. 

Cyclista Zine, while proclaiming “solidarity with DR,” wants consumers to be aware of the impactful side of bicycle manufacture and elite sporting events.

“From manufacturing, transportation, media, and team cars to support the peloton, it sure does make a stage of the TdF, the perfect opportunity to remind us that at large, the cycling industry and sport may be getting away with greenwashing,” the independent publication wrote in an Instagram post.

It added: “Cycling has reached a point where it is a lifestyle of planned obsolescence. With yearly technological advances in fossil fuel fabrics for kit, electronic shifting, tubeless tyres, tech updates etc that we are sold to “ride and look like a pro,” cycling has become a industry based off of generating consumption.”

Global civil disobedience gaining momentum

DR’s nonviolent disruptive protests are a sign of a growing trend. Just Stop Oil (JSO) and Extinction Rebellion (ER) both engage with similar methodologies. Each campaigns peacefully for meaningful climate action at governmental level.

Most recently, JSO closed three sections of the M25 in the UK, following a 40°C heatwave, with protests ongoing. Meanwhile, ER is soon to release a documentary about its 2019 10-day rebellion in London and is planning more action for September 2022.

France and the UK have both declared a climate emergency. However, they each continue to invest in fossil fuel activities.

The post French Activists Disrupted The Tour De France Over Climate Crisis Inaction appeared first on Plant Based News.

On May 25, DeMarco – a practicing chiropractor, author, and vegan – decided to take on a new challenge at what he calls, 57-years-young.

It’s safe to say it was a success. After a grueling half-day session, DeMarco claimed two Guinness World Records for the most pushups performed in eight and 12 hours: 15,261 and 21,008 respectively. (The previous records were 14,444 in eight and 20,085 in 12 hours).

While some people were skeptical about the challenge, DeMarco was confident he could pull it off. “I knew that this world record attempt was going to be tough. I think, because of my age, I had a lot of people who doubted I could do it,” he told Plant Based News (PBN). “However, I never had any doubts.”

Elaborating on the lead-up to the event, DeMarco explained: “I took a very strategic approach to my preparation. Over the past seven to eight months, I began to move away from weight training (I am a former Masters National Bodybuilding Champion) and more into bodyweight training.”

“Cardio training was greatly increased and I began to focus on breathing techniques,” he continued. “Over the course of my training I lost 22 pounds, getting down to my old gymnastics weight (I competed in gymnastics in high school and college).”

Pushups on a plant-based diet

DeMarco’s diet remained relatively unchanged whilst preparing for the big day. “Nutrition-wise, I knew I was all set,” he said. “This is because I eat a 100 percent plant-based diet. I have always avoided ‘junk food,’ and I don’t drink alcohol.”

“I am plant-based because of my love of animals,” he continued. (DeMarco dedicated the Guinness World Record to his rescue dog Buddha, who had cancer last summer).

“However, I also feel that it provides tremendous benefits for my overall health.”

While he trained for the world record attempt, DeMarco’s wife (who he describes as an “excellent vegan chef”) prepared most of his meals.

“She would experiment with different plant-based meals during my training to see what worked best for me in regards to providing me with the needed energy and nutrition. She would also prepare home made electrolyte drinks for me,” he explained.

“My nutrition was a huge part of my success! I never got run down or depleted, even during days when I was training six or seven hours per day.”

Fundraising for charity

“My primary motivation for this pushup record event was to raise money for Cape Ann Animal Aid,” DeMarco told us.

“They are a wonderful animal shelter in Gloucester, Massachusetts.”

The nonprofit is a no-kill organization, “dedicated to facilitating appropriate placement of adoptable animals and enhancing the lives of all companion animals by promoting respect and wellbeing through education and outreach,” its website reads.

“So far, we have raised over $7,500 USD and I’m hoping we can still raise more!”

Those interested can donate to the fundraiser here.

If you purchase something through a link on our site, Plant Based News (PBN) may earn a commission, which helps us to provide our free services to millions of people each week. All linked products are vegan, and are curated by the PBN team.

The post How This 57-Year-Old Vegan Broke 2 Guinness World Records For Pushups appeared first on Plant Based News.

On Wednesday (May 25), DeMarco completed an eye-watering 21,008 pushups in 12 hours, surpassing the previous record of 20,085.

During the same event, he also smashed through the previous eight-hour record, performing 15,261 pushups, compared to the former record-holder’s 14,444.

The athletic feat comes off the back of DeMarco’s 20-year bodybuilding career and background in gymnastics. The 57-year-old, based in Massachusetts, has since retired from bodybuilding but still enjoys “continually challenging” himself.

“My motivation for this most recent challenge was my dog Buddha,” DeMarco wrote online. DeMarco rescued Buddha around two years ago.

“Although not much is known about Buddha’s past, I know it was not good,” he said, adding Buddha came with some “triggers.”

“He was most likely used as a guard dog as people coming through doors enrage him … With a lot of hard work and a loving home, Buddha became the sweet, lovable dog that was always deep inside of him.”

After a “very tough year,” Buddha lost the use of his back legs and developed a malignant tumor on his spleen, DeMarco disclosed. “I don’t know how much longer Buddha will be with me, but I have dedicated my latest challenge to him,” he said.

Donates money to charity

DeMarco set up a fundraiser for the Guinness World Record attempt-turn-triumph. All proceeds will go to Cape Ann Animal Aid, a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter located in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

On the fundraising website, he elaborated: “Ever since I can remember, I have had a passion for fitness and animals. Over the course of my life, I have fostered and rescued many animals that were in need.”

“My love of animals is also the reason that I maintain a 100 percent plant-based diet.”

Those interested can donate to DeMarco’s fundraiser for Cape Ann Animal Aid here.

The post Vegan Breaks 2 Guinness World Records For Most Pushups, Donates Funds To Animal Shelter appeared first on Plant Based News.

Strider, a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB), first ditched animal products in 2019. That’s according to sports publication The Athletic, which recently spoke to Strider about his career so far.

The 23-year-old pitcher, who has a 100 mph fastball, took on a plant-based diet whilst recovering from his ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, colloquially known as Tommy John surgery.

Blood pressure concerns also motivated the change. Strider was diagnosed with high blood pressure at just 18; the condition runs in his family too.

“I had high blood pressure, and I was medicated for it,” he told The Athletic, later adding that “it just didn’t seem right for me to be dependent on medication at 19.”

“So I wanted to pursue other methods of getting that down. Within two weeks of starting a plant-based diet, I had normal blood pressure levels without medication and haven’t had any problems since,” Strider said.

It took him 11 months to rehabilitate from the surgery, “with no setbacks,” he added. (In some cases, athletes require up to two years to recover from Tommy John surgery).

Strider continued: “I don’t think it’s entirely because of a plant-based diet; I mean, there’s a lot that goes into any reconstructive process like that. But yeah, since then I’ve recovered well and I haven’t had any problems, knock on wood.

“It’s definitely something I expect to continue doing for the entirety of my life.”

‘I definitely feel better’

Despite the growing ubiquity of veganism, going without meat and other animal-derived foods can raise eyebrows, especially in the sports sector. Amid masses of misinformation surrounding plant-based foods and protein, some athletes shudder at the thought of making their diet animal-free.

“As athletes, we’re so protein-focused. And that’s how I was. And as a result, I was vicariously eating way too much fat and not getting enough carbs, which are really your fuel source,” Strider explained.

“So I was missing out on some vitamins and central minerals and things that the plant-based diet was making up for. It was a quick change and I definitely feel better every day.”

It isn’t just health concerns that keep Strider committed to his vegan lifestyle. Environmental reasons also play a part.

“We’re growing more food to feed the animals that we’re ultimately eating than we’re eating ourselves, and it’s not sustainable,” he explained.

Indeed, just half (55 percent) of calories from all crops grown in the world go directly to feeding people. For beef, it takes 100 calories of plants to produce just three calories of meat.

“I can’t solve that problem individually,” Strider said. “But at the very least, I can do my part to help out.”

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