You only age when you stop learning, and Dr. Doug Graham is one living example of that. At 73, the chiropractor is debunking the theory that only animal protein is related to strength, all while powerlifting on the international stage.

The raw food author took first place in his weight class at the British Masters Classic Championship in Scotland this month, posting a 97.5kg squat, a 60kg bench press, and a 155kg deadlift.

"My achievements in powerlifting serve as motivation for others considering veganism as a lifestyle," Graham told Plant Based News.

Graham has been vocal about following a vegan diet for nearly 50 years now; his life entirely depends on fruit, vegetables, and plants for fuel.

His powerlifting days did not start until he was in his 60s. Starting in 2010 to break his sedentary lifestyle, he gained significant strength over a decade while maintaining a steady body weight of 66 kg.

Graham even went on to set six regional records before he qualified for nationals, and won 3 years straight.

 This victory was not his first taste of gold in an elite competition setting. Only last year, Graham was representing the British team at the World Masters Powerlifting Championship.

He's set to return to Worlds in Reno, Nevada, later this year.

Apart from this, he has worked with several other people to make them better.

Graham's Other Ventures

Long before Dr. Doug Graham set his records and became a powerlifter, he worked with elite athletes across various sports as a chiropractor.

Some names include Martina Navratilova, NBA players, an Olympic sprinter, and actress Demi Moore.

The CV comes in addition to two decades of experience as a practicing chiropractor and a decade spent leading a fasting retreat, during which he supervised thousands of fasts before deciding to retire from these activities to write and lecture.

Graham has an excellent philosophy that underpins his approach to athletics: find your weak point, and that will be the solution to living a better life. It could be diet, sleeping, or exercising.

Now competing internationally while still coaching others, Graham has folded his own training into the broader message.

What's the biggest myth about plant-based athletes that you think needs to end?

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi