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9 superstar athletes who don't eat meat

By: Brian Merchant on March 5, 2013, 4:17 p.m.

Carl Lewis of the U.S. races off of the starting blocks during Heat 2 of the Men's 100m race at the IAAF World Championships on Aug. 8, 1983

Photo: Tony Duffy/Getty Images

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Fueled by vegetables

It's still a common question: can vegetarians perform as well as their carnivorous counterparts in physical competition? Take a look at each of the top level athletes, and you should have your answer. These nine vegetarian athletes rose to the top of the sports world — without any help from meat. (Text: Brian Merchant originally wrote this for TreeHugger)

Carl Lewis of the U.S. races off of the starting blocks during Heat 2 of the Men's 100m race at the IAAF World Championships on Aug. 8, 1983

Quarterback Joe Namath of the LA Rams smiles during a game at the LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California in 1997

Martina Navratilova win a quarter final mixed doubles match Sept. 6, 2004 at the 2004 US Open in New York

Manager Tony La Russa of the Oakland Athletics looks on during batting practice prior to an MLB game in 1990.

Robert Parish of the Boston Celtics focuses on the rim as he leaps for a slam dunk during a Celtics game against the Philadelphia 76ers in 1990

Prince Fielder in 2012

Dave Scott during the cycling portion of the Iron Man comeptition in 1994

Billie Jean King in 1965

Tight end Tony Gonzalez of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates after catching a 10-yard touchdown in Jan. 2013

Carl Lewis accelerates down the runway of the long jump during the 1984 Summer Olympics at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif.

Fueled by vegetables

It's still a common question: can vegetarians perform as well as their carnivorous counterparts in physical competition? Take a look at each of the top level athletes, and you should have your answer. These nine vegetarian athletes rose to the top of the sports world — without any help from meat. (Text: Brian Merchant originally wrote this for TreeHugger)