Proteins are essential components of a balanced food because they develop muscles and the outer layer of skin, hair, and nails and improve athletic performance. Proteins are available both from animal and plant sources. The protein contained in wheat, barley, rye, and some other similar crops is known as gluten which is composed of two proteins, gliadin and glutenin. The latter makes the dough elastic and imparts the typical texture to bread. It was recently estimated that one out of nine persons has some sort of difficulty in digesting it or they are gluten sensitive. One percent of the American and British population is considered celiac or suffering from the celiac disease which causes stomach disturbances due to the damage caused by gluten to the inner lining of the stomach through an impaired immune system. Fatigue, dehydration, muscle cramps, stunted growth, and some other symptoms culminate in reduced athletic performance. Therefore, the celiac athletes are constrained to go for a gluten-free diet. Unlike wheat, barley, and rye, some other crops like gram, corn, rice, and potato do not contain gluten. Therefore, they are used in a gluten-free diet. Gluten itself is regarded GRAS, or generally regarded as safe, except for those diagnosed with celiac disease.

1. Jennifer Suhr

Jennifer Suhr, better known as Jenn Suhr, was born to Mark and Stuczynski on February 5, 1982. She attended Fredonia High School and Robert Wesleyan College, Rochester, New York. On August 6, 2012 she won a gold medal at the London Olympics in 2012 and is the current Olympic Champion American Pole Vaulter. She has been ranked the #1 American pole vaulter since 2006. She has won the U.S. National Championship 11 times. She is the American women’s pole vault record holder. In 2010, she had been facing some stomach issues, fatigue, dehydration, and muscle cramps at irregular intervals. In 2011, her athletic performance was notably reduced so much that she could not defend her outdoor title, and she was diagnosed as celiac. Immediately after the diagnosis, she went gluten free and not only recovered quickly but also excelled in her athletic performance, winning the gold medal in the London Olympics in 2012. Track and Field News ranked her as the top female vaulter on the planet.

2.   Sarah-Jane Smith

Sarah Jane Smith was born in Geelong, Vic., Australia on July 8, 1984. She loved swimming until the age of 12 years and then started playing golf with her father. She won both the Australian Junior Championship and the Queensland Junior Championship in 2003 and was ranked the #1 Junior of the Year in Australia. In 2004 she turned professional. During her preparations for the 2008 LPGA tour, she experienced abdominal pain, stomach disturbance, and unusual fatigue. In view of her family history of her mother being celiac, she got herself examined and was diagnosed for the celiac disease. She was therefore constrained to go gluten free. She was fond of eating pizza, pasta, and similar other foods but soon got used to consuming a gluten-free diet. Not only that, she made a quick recovery but also recorded a season’s best tie for the 14th position at the LPGA Championship presented by Wegmans and attained a best finish tie for 10th at RR Donnelley’s LPGA Founder’s Cup. As an ambassador for the National Foundation, she said ‘It’s so important for people to understand this is something they can take control of. Celiac disease doesn’t have to control you. ‘

3. Drew Brees

Drew Brees was born to Mina and Eugene Wilson in Austin, Texas, U.S. on January 15, 1979.  He graduated from Purdue University earning his degree in industrial management. At Purdue University he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He is a football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He has been selected six times to the Pro Bowl. He is not celiac but was diagnosed for gluten sensitivity. He adheres to the consumption of a gluten-free diet which does not exclude other items like: peaches, pears, cantaloupe, or honeydew, gluten-free waffles and pancakes, corn grits, potato hashbrowns, shrimp, grilled chicken breast, turtle soup, fried green tomatoes, and broccoli. He earned many awards including: Almo Bowl MVP, Big Ten Football MVP (2000), Maxwell Award (2000), NFL Comeback Player of the Year 2004, and NFL Offensive Player of the Year 2008 and 2011.

4. Steve Nash

Steve Nash was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on February 7, 1974. He is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player. He was given a scholarship by Santa Clara University. Nash led the Suns to the Western Conference in the 2004-05 season and was named MVP, Most Valuable Player, of the league. Nash believes in eating lighter meals more frequently rather than taking heavier meals less frequently. He believes in six light meals a day are better than three heavy meals. He eats gluten-free cereal in rice or almond milk for breakfast. He eats a vegetable salad with chicken at lunch, and a grilled or baked fish at dinner. Time named him one of 100 most influential people in the world.

5. Nate Brannen

Nathan Brannen better known as Nate Brannen was born in Cambridge, Ontario; Canada on September 8, 1982. He graduated from the University of Michigan. He is associated with Tri City Track Club with his personal best in the 800 m of 1:46:00. Brannen is neither celiac nor gluten sensitive yet he opted going gluten free at the advice of his coach as preventive action against injuries. Brannen feels very satisfied with his gluten free diet which he started in 2011 and continues with it persistently.

6. Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic was born to Srdan and Dijana in Belgrade, Yugoslavia on May 22, 1987. He is six feet two inches tall and weighs 176 lb. He turned pro in 2003 and afterwards won many awards including: five Grand Slam singles titles, 2012 Australian Open, 2011 Wimbledon Championship, Tennis Cup 2008, Davis Cup 2010 and won bronze medal in Beijing Olympics in 2008. Novak Djokovic is considered the most famous gluten free athlete in the world.

7. Dana Vollmer

Dana Whitney Vollmer popularly known as Dana Wollmer was born in Syracuse, New York, U.S. on November 13, 1987. She is a famous American swimmer and an n Olympic gold medalist. She has won 30 medals, of which 18 are gold medals, 8 are silver and 4 are bronze medals. She had intense gluten sensitivity and suffered from severe headaches, abdominal pain and joint pain. Before winning her first gold medal, she went gluten free and got rid of the painful symptoms. She commented upon her gluten free diet saying ‘I felt like I got a lot leaner but yet stronger’.

8. Amy Yoder Begley

Amy Yoder Begley was born in Topeka, Indiana on January 11, 1978. She attended East Noble High School and graduated from the University of Arkansas. She was a four times state champion and held 3200 meter state record untills 2011. She is a U.S. Olympian in the 10,000 meter race in 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She suffered from anemia, fatigue, bloating and was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2006 when she went gluten free.

9. Andrew Steele

Andrew Steele was born in Didsbury, Manchester, U.K. on September 19, 1984. He attended St. Bede’s College, Manchester, U.K. He is a British 400 meters runner and competed in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He suffered from injuries and was diagnosed with viral infection until he went gluten free. During 2012 Olympics, he was sponsored by Genius; a gluten free food manufacturer.

10. James Starks

James Starks was born in Niagara Falls, New York on February 25, 1986. He is six feet two inches tall and weighs 218lbs. He attended Niagara Falls High School and had been Captain of its football team for two years. He was offered scholarship by the State University of Buffalo, commonly known as University at Buffalo. He won against Pittsburg Steelers in Super Bowl XLV and his victory was celebrated in his hometown of Niagra Falls. He is a gluten free athlete.

Conclusion:

To be labeled as a gluten free diet, a food product may not contain more than 20 ppm ; 0.002 % of gluten in it according to FDA and not more than 5 ppm according to the Australian standards. There are quite a few celiac athletes who, having gone gluten free, have made notable improvement in their athletic performances. Some athletes, not constrained though, opt going to gluten free diets just to be on preventive side.