Strength training: Exercise keeps Law Minister's mind sharp

Mr K. Shanmugam, who is also the Minister for Home Affairs and is in his 60s, includes strength training in his regimen

- Amrita Kaur

Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam impressed friends and family when he managed to deadlift 125kg at the Chong Pang Fitness Fiesta in November 2022.

With a current weight of 64kg and height of 1.75m, he says: "It's not an insignificant amount of weight. It's a couple of kilos less than double my weight. It showed that my muscle strength and flexibility had improved." "People were surprised. A friend of mine, who is a young swimmer and does weight training, said that he's hoping that I can lift 150kg and above so that I can do weightlifting with him," adds Mr Shanmugam, who turns 64 in March.

In 2021, he had posted on social media a video of himself deadlifting 105kg, which went viral.

Mr Shanmugam has been working with Mr David Devito, a personal trainer and owner of The Fitness Protocol gym, since November 2019.

Despite his busy schedule, the Minister ensures that he exercises four to five times a week, which includes two sessions of strength training with Mr Devito.

For instance, after the interview with The Straits Times, Mr Shanmugam did five rounds of six different exercises under his trainer's guidance.

He did the floor wiper, three variations of the sled pull, barbell chest press and a plank. He did each exercise for about a minute before resting for 30 seconds and then continuing.

Depending on his schedule, he works out at home, The Fitness Protocol or in gyms at the Ministry of Law, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Parliament of Singapore.