There are many athletes in the sports world that made a decision to stop eating meat for a number of reasons, one of them being their awareness that meat is absolutely unnecessary for an attainment of a true health.

Here's a list of some of these great athletes:

Albert Beckles -- Bodybuilder

Alexander Dargatz -- Bodybuilder, German athlete, 2005 Body-Building World Champion, and a physician

Andreas Cahling -- Swedish Bodybuilder

Anthony Peeler -- Basketball Player

Anton Innauer -- Olympic Gold Medal In Ski Jumping

Aura Andrew -- Bodybuilder

B J Armstrong -- Basketball Player Star

Bill Pear -- Bodybuilder

Bill Walton -- Baskeball Player and Sportscaster

Billie Jean King -- Tennis Player

Brendan Brazier -- Professional Ironman Triathlete, Speaker and Author -- Vegan

Carl Lewis -- American Track and Field Athlete, 10 Olympic medals including 9 golds, and 10 World Championships medals, of which 8 were golds

Chris Campbell -- American world champion wrestler

Chris Prince -- Vegan Muay Tai and Mixed Martial Arts Fighter

Christine Vardaros -- Profesional Cyclist (Cyclo-Cross)

Cory Everson -- Bodybuilder, 6 Times Mr. Olympia

Craig Heath -- Professional Figure Skater

Dave Scott -- Triathlete and Coach -- Six times Ironman World Champion -- Vegan

Denise Nicole -- Professional Model and Bodybuilder

Desmond Howard -- American professional football player

Donny Lalonde -- Canadian professional boxer

Dr. Ruth Heidrich -- Triathlete, Health Books -- 'Extreme mama'

Ed Bauer -- Bodybuilder

Ed Templeton -- Proffesional Skateboarder

Edwin Moses -- Track and Field athlete, Olympic champion -- 4 Golden Medals

Elena Walendzik -- 2005 German featherweight boxing champion

Eustace Miles -- Tennis player and author, 10 time British Tennis Champion

Giacomo Marchese -- Bodybuilder

Jack LaLanne -- American fitness, exercise and nutritional expert, celebrity, lecturer, and motivational speaker

Jacque Vaughn -- American professional basketball player

Jim Morris -- Mr America 1973 y Mister Olympia 1996

Joel Kirkilis -- Bodybuilder and Lifter, Victoria (Aus) Bodybuilding champion, 2009

John Salley -- Basketball Player

Johnny Weissmuller -- Swimmer and Actor of Tarzan

Judy Ledenlge -- British world hang gliding champion

Jutta Müller -- German Skater and Skating Coach, windsurfing World Cup champion

Kathy Johnson -- American Artistic gymnast and commentator

Kenneth G. Williams -- Professional Vegan Bodybuilder

Killer Kowalski -- Canadian professional wrestler, He trained WWE professional wrestlers, including Triple H

Leroy Burrell -- American track & field star, Olympic champion

Leslie Marx -- American fencer and two-time national champion

Luiz Freitas -- Bodybuilder

Mac Danzig -- Professional Mixed Martial Arts Fighter and Instructor

Marv Levy -- Professional American and Canadian Football coach

Murray Rose -- Men's Swimming at 17 -- 4 Golden Medals for Australia

Paavo Nurmi -- Finnish long-distance runner and 12-time Olympic medal winner

Pat Reeves -- Marathon Runner, Personal Trainer, BAWLA Coach and Fitness Consultant

Patrick Reiners -- Bodybuilder

Peter Hussing -- Boxing Champion

Ricardo Moreira -- Vegan MMA Fighter

Rich Roll -- Athlete

Rob Bigwood -- Profesional Armwrestler

Robbie Hazeley -- Vegan Bodybuilder (53 years Old)

Robert Cheeke -- Vegan Bodybuilder, President of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness -- VeganBodybuilding.com

Robert Lichtenwalner -- Mountain Biker

Robert Millar -- Scottish professional cyclist who won the King of the Mountains competition

Robert Parish -- Baskeball Player, NBA Star

Roy Hilligenn -- Bodybuilder, Mr. America 1951

Ruth Heidrich -- American Health Educator and Three-time Ironman Contestant

Ryan Wilson -- Strength Athlete, Strongman competition

Salim Stoudamire -- Professional Basketball Player in the NBA

Scott Jurek -- Ultramarathoner

Sebastian Grubb -- Fitness Trainer, Nutrition Coach, Professional Dancer

Silken Laumann -- Canadian champion rower 2 Golden Medals

Tiffany Croker -- Weightlifter

Tim VanOrden -- Track & Field, Road Racing, Mountain Running, Stair Climbing

Toni Innauer -- Sky Jumper

Tony LaRussa -- American Baseball Team Manager

Tonya Kay -- Professional Dancer

Torre Washington -- Bodybuilder

Weia Reinboud -- Masters High jumper

Willie Austin -- Former World Class Athlete, internationally recognised As Strength Trainer