Meagan Duhamel Retires as Two-Time World Champion and Olympic Gold Medallist

Vegan figure skater Meagan Duhamel has retired from competitive skating as a two-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist. Duhamel, 32, and her pairs partner Eric Radford, 33, made the decision official on Wednesday, April 25, the Associated Press reports.

The Canadians leave the sport as one of the most decorated pairs in its history. They won back-to-back world titles in 2015 and 2016, four world championship medals in total, and a record seven straight Canadian pairs titles from 2012 to 2018. At the Olympics they won team silver in Sochi in 2014, then team gold and pairs bronze in PyeongChang just two months ago.

Duhamel and Radford both live in Montreal and plan to stay involved in skating together through shows and seminars.

Duhamel has been plant-based since 2008, and she credits the switch with turning her into an elite athlete. She had considered herself “out of shape under elite figure skating standards” until she read up on vegan nutrition while chasing a place at the 2010 Olympics. She told VegNews:

I felt my body changing. I lost weight, my skin was glowing, my energy levels were on the rise, and I woke up every morning feeling rested and ready to tackle the new day ahead. I was truly hooked!

Her coach and partner were skeptical at first, worried she would become “malnourished”. Instead her coach started asking her to help other skaters with their diets. She even studied at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, and fuels with chia and hemp seeds, green smoothies, trail mix and daily supplements including vitamin B12.

Back in February we reported on a vegan Olympian who won gold and rescued a dog destined for the dinner table, and on the Olympic athletes who promoted ditching cow’s milk at the closing ceremony. Just this week vegan quarterback Colin Kaepernick received Amnesty International’s highest honor.

A decade on plants, two world titles and Olympic gold. Congratulations Meagan!