• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
World's strongest boy known as 'Little Hercules' is now living very different lifestyle 24 years on

Home> News> Sport

Updated 17:30 22 Nov 2024 GMTPublished 17:19 22 Nov 2024 GMT

World's strongest boy known as 'Little Hercules' is now living very different lifestyle 24 years on

Richard Sandrak was able to bench press 95kg at the age of eight

Lucy Devine

Lucy Devine

Back in the early noughties, eight-year-old Richard Sandrak was dubbed 'Little Hercules' due to his unusual strength.

But the world's strongest boy - who shot to fame as a child - is now living a very different lifestyle 24 years on.

Growing up, Sandrak - who is the son of two famous sports stars - had a strict exercise regime in which he managed to bench press 95kg.

He would also take part in his father's workouts, which included a gruelling 600 push-ups and 300 squats every day.

Advert

Sandrak was dubbed 'Little Hercules' (Michael Bezjian/WireImage)
Sandrak was dubbed 'Little Hercules' (Michael Bezjian/WireImage)

At the time, Sandrak, from Ukraine, was hailed as the 'world's strongest boy' when he showed his ability to lift up to three times his own body weight by the time he was a teenager.

The son of Pavel Sandrak - a world famous martial arts champion - and aerobics star Lena Sandra, the youngster was also said to have had a pretty regimented diet, packed with protein and no junk food.

But unfortunately, the fame was short-lived, after allegations circulated that the child had a dangerously low body fat percentage of just one per cent, the Mirror reported.

Advert

According to Men's Journal, having such a low body fat percentage can result in some pretty serious health problems; some of which include being prone to serious heart problems and immunity issues.

Sandrak shot to fame as a child (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Sandrak shot to fame as a child (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Decades on from his period of fame and Sandrak, now 30, has revealed that he's no longer interested in bodybuilding.

In fact, he's got totally different interests now.

Advert

Talking to Inside Edition in 2015, he revealed: "I don't lift weights anymore.

"People tried to make seem to be some of freak of nature - there are many kids that have a similar physique.

"I don't lift weights. If anything it just got boring. I’m very proud of my past.

"It’s not something I don’t want people to know anymore, it’s just that I’m not going to be stuck living in it."

Advert

Instead, Sandrak revealed that his dream job was to be a 'quantum scientist, more specifically, an engineer for NASA'.

When asked if that goal could become an actual reality, he responded: "Absolutely, there's no reason it couldn't be."

Sandrak pictured in 2015 (Inside Edition/YouTube)
Sandrak pictured in 2015 (Inside Edition/YouTube)

He also previously quashed speculation that he was 'forced' to bodybuild by his parents.

Advert

“I've never been forced to train or do anything against my will,” Sandrak told the Guardian in 2007.

“My parents used to train all the time, and I wanted to join in.

“It was mostly my choice. It's just what I grew up doing. I was never forced. It was never an issue.”

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Paul Harris

Topics: Celebrity, Sport, Fitness, Health, Ukraine

Lucy Devine
Lucy Devine

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • 2 hours ago

    America’s ‘harshest’ death row prison gives shocking new privileges to killer inmates

    One death row inmate has said the new scheme has given him hope

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Andy Byron's company speaks out after married CEO was caught with employee on Coldplay kiss cam

    The viral video has got people all over the internet talking

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Woman diagnosed with brain tumor after dismissing symptoms as a cold that wouldn’t go away

    Amanda Hyne, from Connecticut, initially thought her symptoms were down to 'mom stress'

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Harvard professor reveals the most important thing marriages need to survive

    Arthur Brooks, American academic and author, made his opinion known on a podcast last year

    News
  • ‘Little Hercules’ who was once ‘world’s strongest boy’ now wants to be a quantum scientist for NASA