With the dawn of a new year and a big election behind us, it’s time for our popular annual list of the 10 Fittest Heads of State in the world! Being the leader of an entire country is a dynamic role in itself, and yet a select 11 from all around the world have set themselves apart with their own fitness aptitude and their promotion of a healthy lifestyle for all.
This year, the list was particularly important because as the world has grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic over the past 12 months, health has been at the forefront of the news.
Now, more than ever, we are realizing that we have to emphasize our personal wellbeing through exercise and healthy nutrition. These simple yet profound lifestyle changes can help build our immune systems to better handle whatever viruses and bacteria the future has in store.
These leaders continue to demonstrate to their country that no matter how frenzied life can get, fitness and health should always be a priority. Since our inaugural list in 2014, we’ve published an updated “Top 10” annually including 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. The 11 heads of state that make our 2021 list are not only pioneers as global ambassadors, but they are also leaders outside of the office when they are competing in sports, simply biking with their family or being pioneers in being able to curb the pandemic in their countries.
“The ‘Fittest Heads of State’ list was started to promote global fitness,” says Health Fitness Revolution founder Samir Becic, who has 20 years of expertise in the fitness industry and was named No. 1 fitness trainer in the world for BTF and appointed “Fitness Czar” for the City of Houston. “This year’s COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more apparent that we need to build our immune systems through healthy lifestyle changes in order to make it robust for any future and unpredictable pandemics. We know now that next to social distancing, wearing a mask, washing our hands, and vaccinations, building our immune systems through healthy living is necessary- maybe even critical for our survival as a species.”
In no particular order, the following world leaders have become healthy role models for their citizens. From accomplished athletes to recreational weekend warriors, nutrition enthusiasts to nutrition policymakers, these heads of state are doing their part to lead by example in the quest for a stronger, healthier global community. It is important to note that although we found leaders who we knew were fit but because we were unable to find any accessible data on their routines, they were ineligible for this list. Samir adds to all world leaders “please share your healthy lifestyle habits!”
Criteria for the Fittest Heads of State:
- For each country, the first and second in charge are eligible for the list. For example: Canada and New Zealand have their Prime Ministers on this list even though their respective monarch Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state. The same goes for the United States, both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris qualify for this list.
- Have to be healthy and fit personally.
- Should promote a healthy lifestyle globally.
- Physical fitness relative to age has been taken into substantial consideration.
Click to see who else made the Top 11 Fittest Heads of State 2021
- Has successfully eradicated COVID-19 in New Zealand, people can live their normal lives, workout, see family etc.
- Ardern has said she used to be a keen runner while living in London.
- Loved walking briskly to relieve stress while on the campaign trail- and did it a lot.
- Since becoming a mom, has said she misses running and walking as much but dances with her daughter to get moving. “When you’ve got a little one, that time out for those exercises gets that much harder – so instead, now, Neve loves to dance. So in the morning, and often before she goes to bed she’ll say ‘I want to dance’, and so we’ll put on some really bad children’s music – we’ll ruin Clark’s Spotify algorithms – and we’ll play something to dance to.”
- In September 2020, Jacinda Ardern backed World United, the campaign will promote the importance of exercise to physical and mental health and is aimed at helping the global fitness industry reactivate paused members and attract new ones. Ardern said “We are facing a major health challenge, but as we come out of this, exercise will have a vital part to play in uniting us, and keeping us both mentally and physically well.”
- Wrote a meditation for SpiritofLife in May 2020.
- Aims to bring kindness back to politics.
- Supports a wellness budget for the country.
- Samir Becic: “Prime Minister, I cannot express how honored I am to include you on this list. Not only did you manage Covid-19 better than most leaders in the world, you are also a health role model, which adds to your greatness.”
