At what point do we take a step back and see that our quest for fame and fortune has crossed the borders of sanity?
Apr 17, 2007 Celebrity Spotlights, General Health & Fitness, Health News, Weird Bodybuilding Articles
As of 2007 he stands 5 feet and 1″ inches. At the age of 8 he was able to bench press 210 pounds at the body weight of 70 pounds.
Richard Sandrak, also known as Little Hercules (born April 15, 1992) is a Ukrainian bodybuilder, martial artist and actor, renowned for his physique at an extremely young age. He is probably best known for his appearance in the documentary â€The World’s Strongest Boy†which has been shown on several TV channels across the world, and for his dedication to bodybuilding at an adult level.
He was born in Ukraine and reportedly displayed great strength in infancy, when his doctor experienced trouble holding him down during examinations. He came to America at the age of 2 years, with his father Pavlo and his mother, Olena. Pavlo, a martial arts trainer, was dedicated to bodybuilding, which led to Richard training at an early age. To this end, he started training at two years of age and by the time he was six was pressing 4 times more than his own weight.
His father only allowed him to eat according to a strict diet, consisting of liquid nutrients and vegetables. It was also alleged that he was given numerous anabolic steroids. He was not allowed to eat foods like pizza, even when dining with others who did. Pavlo guided Richard’s career until he was imprisoned for assaulting his wife. Having accepted a plea bargain, Pavlo Sandrak is currently serving a three-year sentence, and as of 2006 Richard is being trained by his mother.
Richard was allowed neither to own any toys nor to socialize with other children of his own age, and so he had no friends until his father was jailed. Following the removal of Pavlo from Richard’s life, Richard was allowed to experience some of the normal aspects of life for children of his age, including spending time with friends, the ability to eat foods like pizza, and enjoying video games. He continues to train, but at more moderate levels, and while still in excellent shape, does not possess the muscle definition he once had when training under his father.
His father has been criticized for focusing all of his son’s time on such intensive training, for isolating him from activities enjoyed by children his own age, the strict diet he kept Richard on, and for allegations of giving Richard steroids. Critics point out that muscle cannot grow without testosterone, which is determined by age, fueling speculation that Pavlo was either giving Richard steroids in the form of an unknown powder, or that Richard’s true age was being concealed. Richard himself is reportedly upset by such accusations, asserting that he has passed numerous age and drug tests with clean results.
