Shirtless President Barack Obama swims in the Gulf (photos)

President Barack Obama swims with daughter Sasha off Alligator Point in Panama City Beach, Florida.
This picture was released online by the White House. (Photos/White House, Washingtonian, NYPost)

 To show that the waters of the Gulf of Mexico are safe and clean now after millions of gallons of oil had spilled into them for the past four months, President Barack Obama took a swim off Alligator Point in Panama City Beach, Florida, on Aug. 14, 2010 with daughter Sasha, 9.

Earlier in the day, Obama, 49, told reporters he planned to take a dip in the Gulf waters, but wouldn't allow tv cameras or photographers to film him.

Why? The president joked that the last time he went to the beach in Hawaii, photos of him shirtless were splashed across the covers of newspapers and magazines around the world. 

Almost all of the press coverage was resoundingly positive, with most praising the athletic 6'1" Obama's fit, lean physique, which he has achieved through daily morning workouts.

On Saturday afternoon, the White House released its own photo of the president enjoying a swim at Alligator Point Beach, an area near the restaurant where they had lunch. A staff photographer took the picture -- away from the prying eyes of the press corps -- and the White House released it online.

'GULF COAST IS SAFE AND BEACHES ARE OPEN'

"As a result of the clean-up effort, beaches all along the Gulf Coast are clean and safe and open for business," said Obama.

President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha, 9, enjoyed a light lunch of fish tacos, chicken fingers, guacamole and a burger at a nearby restaurant. 

Mrs. Obama, who in Feb. 2010 launched the Let's Move Campaign to fight childhood obesity, and her husband are both fitness fanatics who work out daily.

"The President and I work out every day," said Michelle, 46. "And we encourage many of our staffers, particularly our senior staff who are here day and night, to make time for exercise."

Tthe First Lady typically hits the gym every morning at 4:30 a.m., where she does Pilates, cardio, stretching and weights. "I enjoy arm exercises because you can see what it's hitting," she says.

'WE WANT TO BE FITNESS ROLE MODELS'

The First Lady says her husband, who plays basketball, lifts weights, does cardio exercise on the elliptical trainer or treadmill, is a fitness role model. 

"I think the President serves as a good role model because as busy as he is, he exercises every day," she said. "It's a part of what keeps him going. You do get to a point where exercise becomes something that you need, like water. And we try to promote that."

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