Murray Rose–Vegan Olympic Swimming Gold Medalist–Passes At 73
Written by Vegetarian Star on April 16th, 2012 in Athletes-Games-Sports, Food & Drink.
Murray Rose, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming for Australia, passed away at the age of 73.
In addition to being an accomplished freestyle swimmer, winning gold at the 1956 Melbourne and 1960 Rome games, Rose dabbled in acting, having an appearance in the 1964 film “Ride the Wild Surf,” and the 1968 action film “Ice Station Zebra.”
He did it all on a completely plant-based diet and described himself as being ahead of his time in an age that he claimed vegetarianism “wasn’t really cared for.”
Just because the diet wasn’t popular in his days, doesn’t mean it wasn’t a widely publicized fact that he adhered to it, as Murray earned the name “The Seaweed Streak.”
The New York Times reports that his diet contained much, “sunflower seeds, sesame, unpolished rice, dates, cashew nuts and carrot juice.” Murray was also lucky enough to have his own personal vegan chef–his mother–put these meals together for him.
Born Jan. 6, 1939, in Nairn, Scotland, Iain Murray Rose and his family moved to Australia shortly after World War II and began swimming as a child.
In a joint statement, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Sports Minister Kate Lundy said Australia had lost one of its greatest Olympians.
“Murray was a true pioneer of Australian swimming and his impressive feats in the pool helped to shape Australia’s destiny as a successful sporting nation,” the statement said.
Photo: Mbagley/Creative Commons
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