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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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

“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.”