Kendrick Farris – Olympic Powerhouse

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Kendrick Farris is a vegan Olympic weightlifter who competed for the United States in three Olympics: 2008, 2012, and 2016. In 2014 he switched to a fully vegan diet. Two years later, at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, he set an American record by lifting 831 pounds across his two lifts, then went on to finish 11th in the 94 kg class at the Rio Games.

Making The Change

In 2014, Kendrick and his wife Katrina had a son. The experience got him thinking about his family’s history and his connection to the Hebrew Israelite faith, the belief that his ancestors were among the “Lost Tribes of Israel.” That led him to a plant-based diet along the lines of the kosher-style eating his ancestors would have known, he told HuffPost.

The ethics lined up too. “I don’t necessarily trust the way the food is being processed,” said Farris. “I don’t agree with the way the animals are mass-slaughtered. So that’s one thing that kind of got me looking at what they call a vegan diet.”

How does he feel about the change? He says he’s clear-headed, lighter, and cleaner than ever. “My mind is extremely clear. I’m not easily flustered [now]. My attitude is totally different. I had a really bad temper growing up, something I worked on for years. And now I’m able to recognize different emotions and I’m not governed by them.”

“I transitioned to a vegan diet about a month ago, and I’m happy to report my life has changed for the better…”

Facebook post by Kendrick Farris announcing his change to a vegan diet

Getting Even Stronger

Kendrick Farris lifting over 400 pounds

Kendrick’s diet change came with better performances on the platform. At the 2016 Olympic trials, Farris broke the U.S. weightlifting record with a 370-pound snatch and a 461-pound clean and jerk: 831 pounds total. He went on to finish 11th in the 94 kg class at the Rio Olympics, totaling 787 pounds.

“I didn’t think he was going to stick with it. But two years later, I think it’s made him better.”

Farris’s wife, Katrina, after he made the change to a vegan diet

Katrina was surprised at first. Farris had been a serious meat eater before, and hamburgers were one of his favorites. But the results won her over. She supports him fully and keeps non-vegan products out of their home, she told Men’s Journal.

A Vegan Weightlifter’s Diet

So how does Farris keep his muscle without eating meat? He eats plant-based versions of the foods he already liked, and black beans do a lot of the heavy lifting. Katrina puts it simply: “I use black beans for everything.”

A typical day: three full meals, two snacks, and a protein shake. Mornings start with pancakes or oats, followed by a mid-morning vegan protein shake. Lunch before the gym is something protein-heavy like avocado quesadillas. Then another snack (often black bean chips with guacamole), another protein-heavy dinner, and a protein shake before bed.

Want to fuel your own training the plant-based way? Check out our guide on how to fuel your workouts with a plant-based diet.