Britain’s first cycling medal winner at the Paris Olympics believes that going vegan made her a faster rider.
Anna Henderson took a surprise second place in the road race time trial on the wet, treacherous streets of the French capital.
The 25-year-old has been vocal about her choice to live a vegan lifestyle in the past and says it has benefited her cycling career.
Speaking in 2021, she said she used to be “one of the biggest meat eaters out there” before finally deciding to have a plant-based diet.
‘I feel better. I’m faster’
“I used to be like, ‘I’ll never be vegan, I love meat. But I think what happens is that we all dissociate from what meat is and what animals are”, she told Rouleur cycling magazine.
“I made that connection and then I couldn’t eat meat anymore or any animal products.”
However, Henderson said she had not felt any negative impacts since she gave up meat and felt quicker than ever.
She added: “I feel no difference, I feel better. I’m faster, I’m a bit leaner and I love it.”
Henderson rides for professional Team Jumbo Visma-Lease a Bike and she previously said they had been “really good” supporting her choice.
She added: “It’s super easy [going vegan], actually. I think riders are scared that it will be really hard, but in my opinion, I’ve been totally fine and it’s been a really good experience.”
Her only regret, she said, was that there are not more riders in the pro peloton who follow the same lifestyle: “All round for me it’s been such a huge positive change in my life. And I hope that riders will make the change soon.”
