8+8+8 – This is known from the training schedule of the “lust exerciser” Alexander Stubb – 2024-02-14 16:35:39

Alexander Stubb, elected president of the Republic, has been known to play a lot of sports, but this may change radically in his new job.

The 8+8+8 rule means eight hours of rest, eight hours of work and eight hours of free time.

This is the kind of rhythm Stubb tried to follow as minister in 2014, according to a column in Finnair’s Blue Wings customer magazine.

Stubb also gave advice to those who felt that such a rhythm was not possible for them. Stubb advised to eliminate all unnecessary evening programs from your calendar, because “they are a relic of the past and usually bad for your liver”.

At the same time, the minister Paavo Arhinmäki doubted in Iltasanom that no working person can train as Minister Stubb says he does.

Stubb said that he works out for an hour a day on average. Stubb said that he does sports, for example, between official meetings or early in the morning.

He explained his time with his discipline. He stated that he needs results to be fit and in good shape. He also compared his work to sports performance.

The President of the Republic must take good care of his stamina. ATTE KAJOVA

Sports freak

In 2009, Stubb told Yle in an interview that he is a wise sports fanatic, whose secretary organizes space in the calendar for fitness.

He also mentioned that he went jogging and skiing with Norway’s foreign minister and running with the US deputy secretary of state.

In the same interview, Stubb revealed that he is “not the most flexible guy in the world”.

In 2018, the Financial Times named Stubb a “fitness fiend”.

Stubb has achieved the European triathlon championship in his age group. In triathlon, the sports are cycling, running and swimming.

The sports craze has not eased.

In 2023, Stubb aired the success of Finnish athletes in the European Championships in the messaging service X (formerly Twitter) by saying that “a sports-crazy bench athlete gets excited”.

“Not a fanatic”

Coach Antti Hagqvist says that he has cooperated with the future president of the republic for 15 years already.

Stubb has even been considered a fanatical trainee, but this definition is not true according to Hagqvist.

– Alex is not a fanatic exerciser, but a reasonable and passionate exerciser.

– Alex’s training is always proportionate to the work load. It has been important that sports do not reduce the state of alertness, says Hagqvist.

Hagqvistin thinks that Stubb’s work in Italy has been such that he has been able to adjust his own sport to it more freely and better than to the vacation of a new job as president of the republic.

Endorphin hop

While working as the vice president of the European Investment Bank, Stubb finished fourth in his age group in the Ironman competition in Barcelona. He was 51 years old at the time.

Then Stubb told Iltalehte that he likes triathlon above all because of the versatility of the sport.

In the interview, Stubb said that he keeps a food diary.

He said that he truly and wholeheartedly enjoys the training. He characterized the training as the highlight of the day.

– Nothing beats the post-workout endorphin rush, Stubb beamed.

Stubb has stated that an hour a day of exercise gives a couple of hours of extra energy to the day.

“Just a hobby”

Coach Antti Hagqvist hopes that Stubb, as president, could participate in sports events in other ways than just as a patron of the events, i.e. by participating in a competition, for example.

– Sports is just a hobby for Alex. As the president of the Republic, he can encourage everyone to exercise, Hagqvist hopes.

Even during the presidential race, Stubb managed to get in shape by, among other things, skiing.

Stubb belongs to his wife By Suzanne Innes-Stubb with the winter swimming club. Swimming in cold water can be beneficial for recovery from training.

During the election tour in January 2024, Stubb shared a picture on Instagram with the text: “Workout -> paikärit -> opening -> exam”.

Paikkäri, super power

During the election tour, Stubb hoped that the superpower, i.e. the scumbags, would still give power. He has emphasized sleep as the cornerstone of coping and well-being. If the dreams are bad, optimism is also tested.

In the interview with Avu, the spouse revealed that when the whirlwind is spinning in his head, Stubb might wake up in the morning to watch.

Stubb’s home in Espoo’s Haukilahti has had its own gym, which was made into a garage.

As President of the Republic, Stubb moves to live in Munkkiniemi in the State guest house, which serves as a temporary official residence, as Mäntyniemi is under renovation. The renovation is estimated to be completed in the spring of 2026.

For security reasons, the details of both houses or their gyms have not been presented to the public.