The ‘buff’ man elected as the next Premier of South Australia

Peter Malinauskas made a splash – literally and figuratively – and set tongues wagging when he posed for a photograph shirtless in a swimming pool last month.

If anyone was unaware of who the South Australian Labor leader was at the time, it seemed everyone suddenly knew.

It was about five weeks out from the SA election and the opposition leader was at Adelaide Aquatic Centre to make an announcement to the media wxjmtzywhen the photographs were snapped.

The father-of-three, who has admitted going to the gym up to three times per week, appeared to be giving new meaning to the term “dad bod”.

Malinauskas Swimming
Peter Malinauskas with his daughter Eliza at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre. This is among the photos that set tongues wagging. Brenton Edwards Credit: News Corp Australia
Supplied Editorial Peter Malinauskas invites the public to run with him. Picture: Peter Malinauskas
Peter Malinauskas enjoys running and is often wearing sleeveless shirts when he exercises. Peter Malinauskas Credit: Supplied

He even posted his own photograph on Instagram, carrying his young daughter Eliza, with both of them grinning widely — and his strong arm fully flexed.

“Guns out, suns out,” one person commented.

“Hope those guns aren’t loaded,” another person said.

A third person wrote: “I didn’t know Peter had a set of guns on him.”

Outgoing Premier Steven Marshall likened it to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s famous shirtless photograph and suggested Mr Malinauskas had more time on his hands than he did to exercise.

“There’s no Putin-style campaigning from me, I can guarantee,” he told ABC radio.

Malinauskas Swimming
Peter Malinauskas admits he likes to go to the gym regularly. Brenton Edwards Credit: News Corp Australia

While this election campaign should certainly not be based on anyone’s physical appearance, there is no doubt some people who are less interested in politics may be minded to cast their vote a certain way after viewing the pool images.

But of course, there is much more to Mr Malinauskas than his ripped body.

The 41-year-old was elected as the Member for Croydon at the 2018 state election and soon after became the SA Labor leader.

Before entering politics, Mr Malinauskas was the leader of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association.

Peter Malinauskas
Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas with his wife Annabel, Jack (4), Sophie (6) and Eliza (22 months), as well as his parents Peter and Kate at home. Kelly Barnes Credit: News Corp Australia

Mr Malinauskas is married to Annabel and they have three young children — Sophie, Jack and Eliza.

In his spare time, Mr Malinauskas enjoys watching a Port Adelaide AFL game or playing for Adelaide Uni.

He describes himself as a “pretty average footy player” and a “weekend gardener”.

“My grandparents left war-torn Europe in the 40s in search of a better life for our family,” he said in a campaign video.

Peter Malinauskas as a prefect at Adelaide’s Mercedes College in the late 1990s. Photo: Supplied
Peter Malinauskas as a prefect at Adelaide’s Mercedes College in the late 1990s. Photo: Supplied Credit: Supplied
The Peoples Forum
Time will tell whether voters will decide Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas it their number one pick for Premier. Keryn Stevens Credit: News Corp Australia

“My parents worked tirelessly to teach me the value of hard work.

“Now, I have a young family of my own and I want to provide a better future for them too.”

Mr Malinauskas has run a presidential style campaign which saw SA Labor returned to government after just one term in opposition.