Top 10 Fittest Athletes in the World 2015

June 16, 2015

With hundreds of professional sports out there and thousands more professional athletes to choose from, Samir Becic and the Health Fitness Revolution team put in 500 man-hours to compile a list of the 10 most all-around fit athletes. The list started with hundreds of professional athletes from various sports and was eventually narrowed down to the fittest 10. The list, though difficult to narrow down, was a result of extensive research by the HFR team.

The research included various analyses of the demands, strengths and weaknesses of the different sports each athlete hails from. Furthermore, we took into account personal habits, such as on and off-season training regimens, diet and nutrition intake, and their involvement in promoting health and fitness in their communities.

“It’s not important who the fittest athletes in the world are,” Samir Becic said. “What’s important is that all the athletes spread the message of having a healthy lifestyle. With a healthy lifestyle, physical fitness, healthy nutrition, mental, social and spiritual balance, we can control, manage or completely avoid over 70% of all illnesses known to mankind.”

Our list placed tennis professional, Novak Djokovic on top. “Djokovic is a great example of how an athlete should be- not only physically talented, but also conscious of what happens off the court. I believe he is currently the fittest athlete in the world,” said Becic.

See our article on why Novak Djokovic is the fittest male athlete.

We weighed several physical statistics including:

stamina
endurance
cardio training
strength
flexibility
mobility
training regimen
diet and nutrition intake
and promotion of sports, physical fitness, healthy living and community involvement

Here are the Top 10 from Health Fitness Revolution and author of the book ReSYNC Your Life Samir Becic:

1. Novak Djokovic, Professional Tennis Player

“I think luck falls on not just the brave, but also the ones who believe they belong there.”

Accomplishments:
- Twice named US Sports Academy’s Male Athlete of the Year
- ATP Player of the Year
- Best Male Tennis Player in Serbia
- 8 Grand Slam titles: 5-time winner of the Australian Open, 2-time winner of Wimbledon, 1-time winner of the US Open winner
Workout and Fitness:
- Warm-up consists of explosive stretches and resistance band work
- Workout includes fast-paced exercises with focus on plyometrics, reflex movements and balance.
- Off-season training includes implementing yoga.
Diet and Nutrition:
- Breakfast:
  - Coffee or tea, grapefruit, gluten-free bagel with low-fat cream cheese, eggs
- Lunch:
  - Salad, grilled lean hamburger, gluten-free bread, iced tea or coffee
- Snack:
  - String cheese
- Dinner:
  - Salad, oil and vinegar dressing, salmon prepared with lemon, brown rice and vegetables
- Dessert:
  - Gluten-free chocolate chip cookies
Community Involvement:
- Raised $1,400,000 for early childhood education
- Founder of the Novak Djokovic Foundation, dedicated to creating a lasting change in the lives of Serbian children in need by promoting healthy eating, early education, constructive parenting, and becoming involved in exercise and sports
- Leader of a campaign against child labor
- He is also a UNICEF Ambassador in Serbia
- Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year Award

2. Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimmer

“You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.”

Accomplishments:
- Youngest member on the US Olympic team at age 15
- Broke the world record in the 200 meter butterfly in 2001 at the age of 16
- 2003: Phelps won 4 gold medals, 2 silver medals and broke 5 world records at the world championships in Barcelona
- 2005: Phelps won 5 gold medals and a silver at the world championships in Montreal
- 2007: Phelps received 7 gold medals in the world championships
- From 2004-2012, he won 22 medals at the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Beijing and London—18 gold, two silver and two bronze—and setting the record for the most medal wins by any Olympian
Workout and Fitness:
- Works out 6 hours a day 6 times a week, incorporating both swimming and dry-land training
- Weight training, cardiovascular conditioning, and swims a minimum of 50 miles a week
- Balance between weight training and body-weight training
Community Involvement:
- Founded the Michael Phelps Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on growing the sport of swimming and promoting healthy and active lifestyle, especially for children

3. Usain Bolt, Olympic Sprinter

“Know what it is you want and do whatever it takes to get it.”

Accomplishments:
- Jupiter Award for work with United Way Jamaica
- First Olympian in history to win both 100m and 200m races in world record times.
- 6 Olympic gold medals
- 8 gold medals in the world championships and 2 silver medals
Workout and Fitness:
- 90 minutes daily – focusing on his core and back
- He focuses his time not on building muscle but rather building his explosiveness with leg extensions and hamstring curls
- 30 seconds on, 30 seconds rest – three sets of each of the following: leg raises, side sweeps, reverse crunches, side plank clams
Diet and Nutrition:
- Daily protein intake consists of saltfish for breakfast (traditional Jamaican dish)
- Chicken for lunch, and pork for dinner. His carbs include pasta, rice, and potatoes.
- Diet contains 60% protein, 30% carbs, 10% fats.
- One of Usain’s nutritional secrets is yams – a good source of vitamins C and A
Community Involvement
- Founded the Usain Bolt Foundation
- Focuses on providing a healthy and safe environment to children in need
- Also creates educational and recreational opportunities throughout the Kingston community
- Supports Small Steps Project (humanitarian organization)

4. Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Professional Boxer

“A true champion will fight through anything”

Accomplishments:
- First championship belt won in 1998 at 21.
- Record 47-0, 26 knockouts
- WBC super featherweight champion, WBC lightweight champion, WBC light-welterweight champion, WBC light-middleweight champion
Workout and Fitness:
- Favorite pre-fight workout is shadowboxing.
- Drill work includes sparring, speed & heavy bag, neck workout w/weights, 200 sit-ups, pull-ups, dips, jump rope, and 5-8 mile run.
Diet and Nutrition:
- Personal chef Quiana Jeffries said Mayweather only eats organic fruits/veggies and focuses on high levels of protein, low carbs, and no pork!
Community Involvement:
- Founded the Mayweather Foundation, which empowers and encourages community alliances, impacts youth leadership and strengthens family foundations through community development, entrepreneurialism, and education resulting in a healthier community.

5. Roger Federer, Professional Tennis Player

“There is no way around the hard work. Embrace.”

Accomplishments:
- Ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Won 17 Grand Slam Single Championships
- Has participated in 25 Grand Slam finals – 10 of which were in a row.
Workout and Fitness:
- Federer enjoys having various combinations of workouts to pique his interest
- Weight Training: 3 sets of 7-12 reps
- Interval training consists of sprints and endurance runs
- Muscle training:
  - Quads: lateral lunges with twists; jumps, sometimes with jump ropes
  - Upper body: various workouts including a medicine ball
- Active in several other sports, including golf, soccer, and skiing; also enjoys cricket, ping pong, and fishing
- Prefers training in extreme intervals with long breaks in between. In fact, he even sleeps 10 hours a day!
Diet and Nutrition:
- Follows a strict, nutritious diet rich in fiber; meals and snacks are evenly spaced apart
- Pre-match workouts consists of a high-carb, low-fat and low-fiber meal for maximum performance on the court
- Consumes lean protein in his diet to rebuild, repair and regorw his muscle tissues
Community Involvement:
- Founded the Roger Federer Foundation, which aims to provide children with the opportunity to have a good education

6. Cristiano Ronaldo, Professional Soccer Player

“Your love makes me strong, your hate makes me unstoppable.”

Accomplishments:
- UEFA Best Player in Europe
- Ballon d’Or (European Footballer of the Year)
- FIFA World Player of the Year
- 4-time European Golden Shoe award winner
Workout Routine:
- Gets lots of sleep, goes to bed early
- Workout consists of a combination of cardio (running and rowing) and weight training to ensure that workouts target all areas of the body and increase both strength and stamina
- Considers cardio as key for building up endurance and stamina and staying trim. Aims for cardio workouts at least 30 minutes in length, gradually increasing the number of sessions over time
- Listens to his favorite music when working out to keep him motivated (hip hop & reggae)
- Daily workouts lasting approximately 3-4 hours each
- Workout includes squats, box jumps, broad jumps, jumping lunges, and lateral bounds
- Completes up to 3000 sit-ups per workout
Diet and Nutrition
- Drinks plenty of water
- High protein diet with whole-grain carbs
- Enjoys meals with fish; will order a steak with salad when eating out
- Lots of fruits and vegetables
- Cut out alcohol
- Avoids sugary foods
Community Involvement
- Supports many charities, including UNICEF, Save the Children, and World Vision
- Participated in raising funds for the reconstruction of Aceh, Indonesia after 2004 earthquake and tsunami
- Donated $83,000 to pay for 10-month old Erik Ortiz Cruz’s brain operation in 2012

7. LeBron James, Professional Basketball Player

“You have to be able to accept failure to get better.”

Accomplishments:
- 11-time NBA All Star
- 2-time NBA Champion
- 4-time NBA MVPs
- 2-time NBA finals MVP
- 2 Olympic Gold Medals
- Led Miami Heat to a 27-game winning streak – the longest winning streak in NBA history
- No. 1 draft pick in 2003; 2004 NBA Rookie of the Year
Workout and Fitness:
- Ices back and feet prior to workouts
- 30 minutes of combines stretching and yoga
- Various gym and ball-on-the-court workouts
- Off the court workouts consist of pilates reformer, boxing, cycling, sprints
- Cool-downs consist of stretching, as well as actively stretching throughout the day
Diet and Nutrition:
- Meal 1, 6:25 a.m.: Whole wheat bagel with 1 tbsp of peanut butter, 1/2 cup of strawberries, 1/2 cup of cottage cheese
- Meal 2, 9:30 a.m.: 1 cup orange juice, 1 banana, 1 scoop protein powder with 1 cup of low-fat milk
- Meal 3, 12:00 noon: Lean roast beef with whole wheat bun, lettuce, tomato, 2 tbsp of mustard, low fay cheddar cheese and 1-cup of low-fat milk.
- Meal 4, 2:30 p.m.: 1/2 cup of blueberries, 1 cup low-fat natural yogurt, 1/2 glass of milk, 1 granola bar.
- Meal 5, 6:00 p.m.: 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup milk, 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup low-fat strawberry yogurt, with optional 1-2 tablespoons of honey.
- Meal 6. 8:30 p.m.: 1 1/2 cup small broccoli, 1/2 cup rice, 1/3 cup
Community Involvement:
- Founded the LeBron Family Foundation
- Is active in Wheels for Education, Boys and Girls Club and the I Promise Network

8. Wladimir Klitshko, Professional Boxer

“You have to learn the opponent psychologically – inside out – and mental strength is one of the important makers. You’re either gonna break it or make it.”

Accomplishments:
- Reigning Heavyweight Champion, holding WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO,and The Ring championship titles.
- Ph. D in sport science
Workout and Fitness:
- Recently launched a fitness program focused on total body performance. The app matches a workout regimen and nutrition plan to the user.
Diet and Nutrition:
- Loads up on carbs the week before competition. He eats a lot of oatmeal and pasta, and red meat for iron. He says this helps him perform at his highest levels.
- Does not consume meats any less than 6-7 hrs before a fight
Community Involvement:
- Supports Laureus Sport for Good Foundation & UNESCO
- Charities focus on at-risk youth,children, education, human rights,literacy, poverty, and sports.

9. Lionel Messi, Professional Soccer Player

“I am never satisfied. I always push my limits and I always try to get better every day.”

Accomplishments:
- Often considered the best player in the world and rated by some in the sport as the greatest of all time
- Messi is the first soccer player in history to win four FIFA/Ballons d’Or, all of which he won consecutively, and the first to win three European Golden Shoe awards.
- With FC Barcelona, Messi has won seven La Ligas, three Copas del Rey, six Supercopas de España, four UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cups.
Workout and Fitness
- Has two different workout regimens: one for linear speed, another for multidirectional speed
- Both workouts consists of bridges, lunges, skips, stretches and plyometrics
- Linear speed workout focuses on acceleration drills
- Multidirectional speed workout consists of shuffles and hurdles
Diet and Nutrition:
- Eliminated processed foods and replaced them with foods rich in vitamins (cereals, veggies, fish, olive oil) according to Messi’s nutritionist Giuliano Poser
Community Involvement:
- Founded the Leo Messi Foundation, which provides opportunities for disadvantaged youth
- UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador with focus on global children’s rights
- Helped Newell fund construction for a dormitory and new gymnasium in Newell’s Old Boys youth academy
- Donated €600,000 towards the refurbishment of the oncology unit at Victor J. Vilela Children’s Hospital in hometown Rosario, Argentina; donations also paid for doctors to travel to Barcelona for training
- Teamed up w/ Serena Williams for 1/11 (number of children worldwide unable to attend school)

10.Stephen Curry, Professional Basketball Player

“We have to have the mentality that we have to work for everything we’re going to get.”

Accomplishments:
- As of June 16, 2015, Curry has made 381 3-pointers in the 2015 season (286 regular season; 95 post-season)
- 2015 MVP and two-time NBA All Star
- In his 6th seasons as a guard for the Golden State Warriors, he led the team to the best season in the franchise’s history with 67 wins
- Curry is considered by many basketball enthusiasts to be the greatest shooter of all time, having set the shooting record at Davidson College and at the Southern Conference
Workout and Fitness:
- Has several workouts depending on focus
  - Weighted Lunge Series: moves arms in arch motion with each lunge, carrying weights in each hand; lunges out to sides to strengthen lateral movement muscles
  - Shooting Series: Ball catcher hoop- must make at least 100 clean shots
  - Hand-Eye Coordination Series: Dribble while training eyes on bouncing tennis ball
Diet and Nutrition Intake:
- Curry and his wife both believe in maintaining a clean and organic diet. A typical day’s worth of meals may consist something like:
  - Warm cinnamon apple oatmeal
  - Saffron salmon
  - Roasted brussels sprouts and pears
  - Salmon burger
  - Caprese salad
  - greek yogurt
Community Involvement:
- Started the Dell and Stephen Curry Basketball Camps

Honorary Fittest Athlete in the World

Michael Schumacher, Formula 1 Driver

“I’ve always believed that you should never, ever give up and you should always keep fighting even when there’s only a slightest chance.”

Since Michael Schumacher’s skiing accident on December 29, 2013, the 7-time Formula 1 world champion has been fighting for his life and I have kept him in my thoughts. I grew up in Germany and Michael was a living legend and inspiration to people everywhere said Samir Becic, 4-time world’s best fitness trainer. This accident affected me in a way I had not anticipated – it brought to mind my own vulnerability. Considering that Michael Schumacher is fighting for his life, and he’s not giving up, and considering he was one of the fittest Formulate One drivers in the history of the sport, the Health Fitness Revolution team is honoring him as the honorary fittest athlete in the world.

Michael, get well soon!

Accomplishments:
- Seven-time Formula One World Champion and is widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time
- He was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year twice
- He holds many of Formula One’s driver records, including most championships, race victories, fastest laps, pole positions and most races won in a single season – 13 in 2004 (the last of these records was equalled by fellow German Sebastian Vettelnine years later)
- In 2002, he became the only driver in Formula One history to finish in the top three in every race of a season and then also broke the record for most consecutive podium finishes
- According to the official Formula One website, he is statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen
Workout and Fitness:
- Michael Schumacher trained up to six hours a day for improving his physical strength, reaction time and coordination
- The sports training concentrated on improving his physical strength, his reaction time, his coordination and flexibility
- Is a legendary workout freak who became quicker, stronger, and fitter than his competition by outworking them in the weight room
- Spent hours in the gym honing himself into a lean, light and strong performance athlete, with a combination of endurance training and core strength exercises
Diet and Nutrition Intake:
- A journalist once said that his interview with Schumacher was interrupted every 45 minutes by Michaels’ nutritionist, who would hand him his next handful of calorie-controlled, nutritionally-balanced mixed nuts and berries
- Formula 1 drivers know the importance of a strict diet and fitness, which can sometimes be a matter of life and death. An F1 nutritionist says that drivers must eat proteins (meat — even better if white — eggs), carbohydrates (pasta, bread), vitamins and fibers (cereals, fruits, vegetables). They should of course avoid too much fat, carbohydrates and alcohol.
- Michael has his own health instructor and dietician who help him in charting out the right diet plan and regulating his carbohydrate and protein intake.
- During race weekends he eats food with lots of carbs like pasta and bread. This helps in keeping the energy levels up.
- Before and throughout a race he drinks lots of water to avoid dehydration. A F1 driver loses about 3kgs of weight in every race
Community Involvement:
- The former Ferrari driver is a Special Envoy for Education and Sport and donated €1.5 million to the organization
- In a 2002 interview with the organization he explained his dedication to funding projects: “I really want to help the ones people don’t know about. Nowadays, certain projects attract lots of donors. Then there are others you never hear about. Those are the ones I’m interested in.”
- He also once told F1 magazine that: “It’s great if you can use your fame and the power your fame gives you to draw attention to things that really matter.”
- In 2002, Schumacher funded the construction of a school in a poor slum in Dakar, the capital of the West African state of Senegal
- In 1997, Schumacher opened a clinic for child victims of the Balkans War. The clinic provides artificial limbs for amputees as well as psychological support.
- In 2002, he funded the construction of a ‘Palace for the Poor’ in Lima, Peru which caters for homeless children and provides education, food and medical treatment for street children.
- Along with his two sons, Schumacher’s bodyguard lost his life in in the 2004 Tsunami following the Indian Ocean earthquake. Schumi donated over €7 million in aid which meant that he gave more money than many individual countries, sports entities and organizations.
- Schumacher is also known to support UNICEF and Childline, as well as road safety campaigns.