Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
A man who was once known as the 'world's strongest boy' is leading a very different life now, more than 25 years on from his time in the media spotlight.
Richard Sandrak, who was nicknamed 'Little Hercules', earned the title that would've made him the most popular kid in primary school when he was just eight, but now he has opened up about his childhood as well as what he is up to these days.
Early life as Little Hercules
According to the New York Post, Sandrek was born in Ukraine to a martial arts champion father, Pavel Sandrak, and an aerobic-star mother, Lena Sandrak.
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Sandrek began lifting weights at the age of 5, and was soon able to bench press three times his own body weight by the time he was 8-years-old.
His physique shot him to stardom, and saw him rubbing shoulders with celebrities like Arnold Schwarznegger and Lou Ferrigno.
He even landed a spot in the film, Tiny Tarzan, and was interviewed across numerous primetime TV shows.
His extreme training regime
His strict workout regime involved 600 push-ups and sit-ups a day, as well as 300 squats.
Richard said that his father made him work out for 'up to eight hours a day', as well as putting him on a 'athlete’s diet' of 'pure clean eating'.
It was reported at the time that he possessed one percent of body fat at one point - which is considered dangerously low.
Alleged childhood abuse
He told Metro: "My father would often go into rage fits and what would start as a normal workout ended up with me doing a triple split kick for 12 hours.
"There were more times than I can count where a simple training session turned into what felt like a really intense hostage situation."
Richard goes into detail about what his father allegedly forced him to do, including doing squats for the entire length of a movie, but it was his abusive actions towards his mother that finally saw the youngster call the police.
After one particularly violent episode, Sandrak called the police and his father was eventually deported back to Ukraine from the US.
"My dad was very abusive. I learned early on not to ask to stop. You grit your teeth and keep doing what you’re told." Richard said. "It was a very confusing childhood. I don’t recall too many pleasant memories, until after my dad left."
Quitting fitness and substance abuse issues
Richard left the world of bodybuilding, adding that weightlifting was 'almost like PTSD in a sense'.
He continued: "It was connected to my past. I got tired of everything being based around my body."
At 16, he pursued other hobbies, such as gymnastics, swimming and basketball, however, because of his strict upbringing, he said he was 'socially inept and unable to communicate properly' with others.
He struggled with alcoholism, saying that he 'would party a lot and anything I did, I made sure I always had alcohol around'.
Richard has since worked on his addiction to alcohol and has been sober for a year.
Richard's life now he's all grown up
Although he once dreamt of working for NASA, his life is far happier than the one he endured as a child.
He now resides in Los Angeles with his lawyer girlfriend and two cats, while working as a retail manager, but he has made it clear that he has no intention of ever connecting with his father.
“I will always hold resentment towards him. They say ‘forgive and forget’. I may be willing to forgive, but I will never forget,” Sandrak concluded.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.
Topics: Mental Health, Parenting
James Moorhouse