Is Tony Abbott on track to become a world leader in fitness? Running man . . . Tony Abbott hitting the road with daughter Bridget in Brisbane. FORGET bare-chested martial arts expert Vladimir Putin and basketball playing Barack Obama - exercise crazy Tony Abbott will become the world's fittest leader if he's elected Prime Minister. The lycra-loving 55-year-old would set a new physical standard for the globe's political elite, having already completed a gruelling Ironman triathlon and marathon cycling fundraisers and keeping to a daily program that would leave most shuddering. ABBOTT: I'm ready to lead Australia RUDD: I believe we can do it VOTE 1 ME: Final pleas from contenders Whether he could keep up his exercise regime under the constraints of the nation's highest office is not yet clear but Mr Abbott would no doubt try. John Howard managed to get up at about 5, 5.30 every morning and he was walking for almost an hour every day. He played golf four or five hours most weekends," Mr Abbott said on Friday. So (if elected Prime Minister) I'll get up at about the same time and I'll do the same exercise and hopefully on the weekends where John was playing golf I'll be out having a bit of a bike ride. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is a bit of a judo guru. Throughout the demanding election campaign, Mr Abbott hasn't missed a beat when it comes to keeping fit. Everywhere he's travelled around the country's he's carted his trusty bike and exercise gear. In Darwin he impressed troops of the 1st regiment at Robertson Army Barracks with an intense early-morning bootcamp workout, while in Brisbane he opted for a more relaxed pre-dawn jog through the city with the state's premier. NEAR CERTAIN: Shorten to lead Labor CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Election 2013's weirdest moments It's extremely unlikely any global leader would be able to keep up with his relentless regime, even though there are several who make sure they keep in good shape. Mr Obama's exercise of choice is shooting hoops and he keeps to a strict exercise plan, working out for 45 minutes each day. During times when he's on the road the 52-year-old is reportedly driven in a motorcade to the nearest gym that will alter its opening hours to allow for the president to work out. Russian President Vladimir Putin is regularly photographed shirtless, in camouflage pants, trudging through an estuary in the woods with a stern look on his face. US President Barack Obama has made no secret of his love of basketball. A judo enthusiast, swimmer and hunter he clearly realises the double benefit of keeping active and reinforcing his action man appearance image. In the UK, Prime Minister David Cameron enjoys running, but his style is much more laid back. He's said to have received thousands of dollars worth of personal training sessions for free from one of the country's top exercise gurus, but his regime is nothing fancy. His top discipline is cross-country running, which manages to keep him in relatively good shape at 46, but doesn't cast a shadow on Mr Abbott. Took time out from the election campaign to run the 14km City2Surf charity event in Sydney In March 2010, completed a 14-hour Ironman Australia Triathlon at Port Macquarie, New South Wales. The event comprised a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike ride and then a full 42.2km Olympic distance marathon. Ran the 24km Sydney Marathon in 4 hours and 26 minutes with visually impaired triathlete Nathan Johnston in September 2012. When in Canberra, he 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 Takes part in the annual Pollie Pedal event, riding 1000 kilometres to raise millions of dollars in support for carers around the country Continues to volunteer as a firefighter and surf lifesaver Awarded two boxing Blues at the University of Oxford in England, sporting awards granted for achieving the highest level, in 1982.