Last weekend, vegan athlete Juliana Sproles was crowned the "toughest woman on the planet" after finishing the "The World's Toughest Mudder" competition, a 24-hour, mud-filled obstacle race in below-freezing temperatures. Sproles credits diligent training and a plant-based diet for her victory.

Tough Mudder competitions are grueling endurance tests, typically 10-12 miles in length and featuring 20-30 challenging obstacles designed by the British Special Forces. The competitions test all-around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. At the end of each year, the top 5 percent of participants from previous Tough Mudder competitions are eligible to compete in the World's Toughest Mudder series final in order to "find the toughest man and woman on the planet."

Here is a small sample of what is required to win this fierce competition:

 

Athletes like Juliana Sproles, Patrik Baboumian, Carl Lewis, Rich Roll, Scott Jurek, and Mac Danzig are living proof that humans can thrive on plant-based diets. Ready to get fit and be "plant-strong"? Visit ChooseVeg.com for important information about vegan health and hundreds of mouthwatering, cruelty-free recipes.