At 73, Russian President Vladimir Putin swears by an intense fitness regime, that even many young people would find difficult to stick to. His passion for fitness goes back to his early days. The Russian leader practiced Judo at the age of 11, something that helped him cultivate a lifelong discipline.
Even now, there isn’t a single day when Putin doesn’t work out. From 2-hour morning swims to weight training, his morning rituals say a lot about his determination to stay fit to cope with pressures of leadership, as well as live a longer and healthier life.
In India for a crucial diplomatic visit between December 4 and 5, the Russian president is making news for his unique fitness routine that comes from years of practice and perseverance. Here’s a look:
Working out 7 days a week
Putin doesn’t believe in rest days, and turns every day into an opportunity to contribute to his health. In The Putin Interviews, a four-hour documentary filmed between 2015 and 2017, he told film director Oliver Stone about his astonishing morning routine that comprises of both swimming and weight lifting.
Swimming
An important part of his fitness regime is two hours of swimming every morning. While there are reports that say Putin “gets much of Russia’s thinking done” during these swimming sessions, he denied that in his documentary. “No, all kinds of rubbish comes into my head,” he said.
Weight training
Apart from swimming, there is another daily activity Putin swears by. He makes it a point to lift weights early in the morning, before he progresses to his other wellness rituals.
Judo
Putin has been practicing Judo since teenage and that’s something he does as a way of building up adrenaline and taking out aggression. But he doesn’t have a trainer or coach for that simply because he’s doing it just for fitness purpose. Research indeed supports that judo training has beneficial effects on cognitive functions, as well as enhancing balance and strength abilities. The activity helps elevate the concentration of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which supports brain health, according to a study published in Nature journal
Ice hockey
An interest that he cultivated much later in life, Putin started playing ice hockey at the age of 60. He has been spotted many time playing his favourite sport and even scoring goals, nothing less than inspiring at his age.
A study published in the Journal of Sports Science shows that physically active men aged 35 and over who played the sport had significantly lower rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Cold baths
Putin begins his day with alternating hot and freezing-cold baths, a ritual that is known to energise and help with muscle soreness. Contrast Water Therapy (CWT) results in “significantly greater improvements in muscle soreness” in comparison to passive recovery/rest, as per PLOS One journal.
