Vegan Athlete/Pro Wrestler

Interview with 'Shooter' Shane Sinclair

SPW Insider sat down with 'Shooter' Shane Sinclair to talk about his vegan diet and how that helped him become the current SPW New Zealand Champion on top of his game.

Q: So how long have you been vegan?
A: I have been vegan for about 6 and a half years now, I was vegetarian for about 6 months before that.
 
Q:  What made you decide to become vegan?
A: I guess I would say education. I was exposed to a lot of information surrounding the meat and dairy industry, that I was wilfully ignorant of at the time. So I decided to do my research and watch YouTube videos etc, and eventually decided that if I could be healthy and thrive on a diet that didn’t contribute to the suffering of animals, then why not?
 
Q: What is the most difficult thing about becoming vegan?
A: Public perception. I got a lot of grief from friends, family and co-workers. Even still to this day, if I get a cold or I’m having a tough time mentally, I get told that I need to eat meat… Despite the fact that I’m healthier and more conscious of what is going into my body than ever before. Trying to get people to understand that being vegan is a healthy lifestyle has been an on-going effort.
 
Q: What is the biggest misconception around a vegan diet?
A: That you can’t be strong and build muscle. It’s a personal challenge of mine to dispel the skinny-weak vegan myths by getting fit and strong and providing a good role model for anybody out there thinking about making the change to a plant-based lifestyle.

​Q: How does being Vegan contribute to your training as a Pro Wrestler? Are there any positives and negatives?
A: Pretty much only positives to be honest, the changes have been tremendous! My recovery times after workouts, trainings or wrestling shows are so much better, I have more energy and I am stronger for sure. I’m in the best shape of my life and not showing any signs of slowing down!
 
Q: Are there many other Vegan Pro Wrestlers out there?
A: There are quite a lot actually! A lot of athletes are seeing the benefits of a plant based diet, and with people like myself as well as several other guys around the world showing that it can be done, it gives other people a good idea of what can be achieved, and so more confidence to give it a try themselves.
 
Q: What advice would you give to anyone competing in sport that was looking to transition to a Vegan diet?
A: Be smart about it. Do your research, make sure you know what you’re going to be putting into your body and where all of your nutrients are coming from. And if you have questions, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask someone! Pretty much the same advice I’d give to any athlete regardless.

'Shooter' Shane Sinclair defends his SPW New Zealand Championship in Queenstown on Sat 14th March in a Triple Threat Match against Liam Fury and Falcon Kid. CLICK HERE for more information and tickets.