Top Fittest Heads of State

Samir Becic, 4 times Number 1 Fitness Trainer in the world and his Health Fitness Revolution team did research and found the Top Fittest Heads of State.  With this article, we want to alert other Heads of State to be more physically fit and active in order the represent their countries in the best light for the 21st century.  The wealth and prosperity of a nation is dependent on the health and physicality of it’s people.  With this being said, Health Fitness Revolution will go into every segment of society and pick it’s leaders and heroes in healthy lifestyle in order the create strong ambassadors.

We first researched all the available data on the heads of states online and narrowed it down to 100. Then, we did more extensive research to narrow it down 50, 25, and then finally 10. We used a combination of interviews, internet, library, industry literature, and Samir’s knowledge of over 33 years in athletics coupled with his experience as 4 times Number 1 Fitness Trainer in the world.

The leaders on this list not only lead healthy lifestyles themselves, but also promote within their leadership roles to their constituents.
The following was all taken into consideration: fitness level, nutritional habits, age, their own medical issues and how they coped with them, and involvement and promotion of healthy lifestyle within their country. This is the first list of its kind and we are trying to use it to promote healthy lifestyle worldwide.

Countless have asked us who we deem is the fittest head of state.  Our answer to them is that it is difficult to determine because fitness has different elements that are equally important.  If the presidents were combat fighting, Putin would have the highest chance of winning.  If they were playing basketball, Obama would likely win.  In running and cycling, Bush and Rasmussen would likely take the lead.  It is not important who is the fittest head of state is, but rather, that with this article, we encourage all leaders of states to take a proactive approach with not only their own health, but also the health (read: wealth) of their nation.

Heads of State should be best ambassadors for their countries.

Vladimir Putin- Current President of Russia

One of Putin’s favorite sports is the martial art of judo. Putin began training in Sambo (a martial art that originated in the Soviet Union) at the age of 14, before switching to judo, which he continues to practice today.  Putin has  become a master in martial arts, earning master of sports in Sambo, champion on Leningrad in Judo and Sambo, 6th degree black belt in Judo, and 6th dan black belt in Kyokushin kaikan.  He actively competes in sports since 1966.  In addition to being a master martial artist, he also horse back rides, alpine skis, plays badmington, cycles, plays hockey, and fishes.

Barack Obama- Current U.S. President

Obama is very disciplined in his day to day life, and works out regularly.  Not only does the President work out daily, but his wife, Michelle Obama and their two daughters are equally conscious for their health.  Very particular about his health, the man eats healthy food and makes sure his family is very healthy as well.  Obama practices alternate resistance training, plays basketball regularly, and devotes four days a week to weight training.  Obama has been vocal about his opinion that workouts are the best way to bring harmony between your body and mind.

Tony Abbott- Prime Minister of Australia

Not only has Tony Abbott competed in an Iron Man triathlon, he’s run a marathon with a visually impaired athlete, and regularly cycles up and down hills near Parliament House four to six times around dawn and follows the morning routine with about 40 minutes in the gym after Question Time.  During his campaign for election, he impressed troops of the 1st regiment at Robertson Army Barracks with an intense early-morning bootcamp workout where he not only kept up with them but mastered the vigorous workout!

Enrique Peña Nieto- Current President of Mexico

Mexico was recently names the fattest nation in the world, but their new president is a big advocate of fitness and has begun urging all Mexicans to workout for an hour a day, even if it is simply walking. He recently ran a 10K in an effort to motivate the country to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  He urges the Mexican people to have a balanced diet and be consistently exercising, doing any kind of sport they’d like, but playing a sport.

George W. Bush- Former U.S. President

George W. Bush has a military background and was in the Texas Air National Guard.  He is a passionate runner and was known to run 6 times a week during his presidency.  He had a treadmill on the Air Force One, and was known to run for extended periods of time during international flights.  He uses the elliptical, weights, and stretching as part of his regime.  He was quoted saying “Exercise is so important that corporate American should help its employees make time.  There should be flextime for families, and there should be flextime for exercise. A healthy workforce is a more productive work force.  We have got to do a better job of encouraging exercise in America.”  He once ran the Houston marathon in a good time of 3:44, running the first mile in 8:30 and the last mile in 8:30.

Prince Charles- Future King of England

Prince Charles is known for being very active.  Charles has served in both the navy and air force and trained as a jet pilot.  In order the qualify for this position, one must be extremely healthy and fit.  He is an avid polo player, hikes, and has a regular fitness regimen.  He recently was asking the National Welsh Rugby team for training advice, to help him be even more fit.  He has been known to do push-ups and crunches before bed.

Henri, current Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Just by pedigree, he is a career military man, undertaking his military officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurt, England.  Grand Duke Henri is a member of the International Olympic Committee, a member of The Mentor Foundation (established by the World Health Organisation).  He does regular fitness exercises and maintains a healthy lifestyle which aided him on his journey to recovery from certain genetic ailments.

Tony Blair- Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

The British people consider him the fittest Prime Minister the U.K. has ever had.  Mr. Blair often exercised early in the morning and worked out several times a week using the gym running machine.  During his stint as PM his choice of exercise was running on the treadmill or playing tennis in a bid to keep fit.  He was quoted saying that he exercised more now than when in school and said “I pay more attention to looking after myself – I watch my diet a bit. But really I find it’s exercise that’s fantastically helpful for coping with stress.”

Anders Fogh Rasmussen- former Prime Minister of Denmark and current Secretary General NATO 

He is a self-declared teetotaler and non-smoker who exercises daily and acts in every sense controlled.  As an amateur cyclist, Rasmussen completed part of the notorious Alpe d’Huez stage of the 2008 Tour de France the day after the professional race took place. Rasmussen is also an avid runner and follows a daily fitness regimen.

Bill Clinton- Former U.S. President

When President Clinton faced serious health problems in 2004, he did thorough research which let him to the vegan diet in 2010.  In addition to this, he was known to be an avid runner that used this form of cardio exercise to dissipate the stress of the White House.  He is a proponent of healthy lifestyle and Veganism which he credits to saving his life and dropping more than 20 pounds.  Bill Clinton is also known to take long walks with his dog.

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck- Current King of Bhutan

The King and his Queen, are avid basketball players and are currently trying to make it a national sport. Jigme Singye Wangchuck stopped playing goalie in soccer when he realized that none of the players dared to knock one past the future King of Bhutan. So he switched to a more egalitarian sport: basketball, where the game’s fast pace and sharp elbows tend to blur any distinction between royalty and commoners.  The King of Bhutan is also known to meditate, which helps keep him calm- an important aspect of health.

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