Former England footballer and sports broadcaster Karen Carney OBE has made history by becoming the first footballer ever to lift the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 glitterball trophy. Beyond her dazzling dance moves, Carney credits a significant part of her success and sustained energy to her committed vegan lifestyle.
The Plant-Powered Performance
Karen Carney, a respected pundit for TNT Sports, Sky Sports, ITV, and Amazon Prime since 2019, follows a strictly plant-based diet. She avoids all animal products, including meat, dairy, and eggs. Carney has openly stated that this choice benefits both her physical and mental wellbeing, providing her with the vitality needed for the intense demands of elite sport and, more recently, the gruelling Strictly schedule.
Her approach is rooted in careful planning. Even during her top-level football career, she meticulously managed her nutrition to ensure adequate intake of protein, iron, and calcium. She sources these from foods like beans, lentils, tofu, nuts, leafy greens, fortified plant milks, and legumes.
More Than Just a Diet: Ethics and Evidence
For Carney, veganism extends beyond personal health. Part of her motivation is ethical and environmental, driven by an awareness of how food choices impact animals and the planet. With a strong background in sports science and psychology, she adopts a practical, evidence-based approach to her diet.
She has emphasised that eating plant-based aids not only her physical performance but also her mental recovery and wellbeing, which proved crucial during long football seasons, injury management, and the high-pressure environment of Strictly Come Dancing.
A Balanced Role Model for Aspiring Athletes
Karen Carney does not preach veganism as a mandatory path for everyone. Instead, she encourages people to educate themselves about nutrition, make informed choices, and discover what works best for their own bodies. This balanced perspective has made her a positive and relatable role model, particularly for young athletes curious about plant-based diets.
Her career stands as a powerful example that top athletes can thrive on a well-planned vegan diet. However, Carney's success is not a blanket prescription. She and nutrition experts advise that anyone considering a vegan diet, especially growing teenagers, should ensure they consume a wide variety of foods and seek guidance from a parent, coach, or qualified nutrition professional.
