Born to a martial arts world champion father and an aerobics star mom, Ukrainian-born Richard Sandrak was at all times destined to turn into a profitable bodybuilder.
Boasting eight-pack abs and a chiselled physique on the age of six, Richard might bench press 210 kilos earlier than he hit adolescence and was dubbed ‘Little Hercules’.
After his household migrated to the US, he grew to become a world phenomenon – competing in bodybuilding contests all around the world and incomes the title of ‘The Strongest Boy In The World’ aged simply eight.
He additionally landed a job within the movie Tiny Tarzan after his health schedule gained media consideration.
By the point he was an adolescent, Richard might elevate nearly thrice his physique weight and had a dangerously low physique fats proportion of only one per cent.
When a documentary was launched about Richard in 2005, many involved viewers had been disturbed by the brutal coaching regime the kid was uncovered to – which included a strict ‘athlete’s food plan’ which disadvantaged him from lots of the regular treats and experiences little boys get pleasure from.
Some medical professionals additionally accused Richard’s mother and father of giving him steroids as a toddler – although his mom Lena Sandrak has denied these claims.
However in a 2007 interview with The Guardian, the then-15-year-old insisted he had ‘by no means been pressured to do something towards my will’.
Richard Sandrak was declared ‘The Strongest Boy In The World’ on the age of eight
The Ukrainian-born bodybuilder started his profession at a younger age and was skilled by his father
Richard has now opened up in regards to the abuse he suffered by the hands of his father Pavel
Now aged 32, nevertheless, the previous little one star has opened up about his troubled childhood, revealing how he was coerced right into a bodybuilding profession and pushed to unhealthy extremes.
Chatting with Metro, Richard informed how he was ‘bodily and emotionally abused’ by his father Pavel Sandrak, who additionally skilled him.
‘My father would usually go into rage matches and what would begin as a traditional exercise ended up with me doing a triple cut up kick for 12 hours’, he stated.
‘There have been extra occasions than I can depend the place a easy coaching session become what felt like a very intense hostage scenario.’
He additionally recalled how his day by day routine consisted of coaching in martial arts and weightlifting later within the day. However even when Richard was watching TV, he could be pressured to do continuous squats – one thing he admitted he thought-about to be regular as he had ‘nothing to match it to’.
Richard additionally informed how his childhood was ‘very complicated’ on account of his father’s vicious abuse.
In 2003, a very violent assault on his mom Lena put Richard’s father behind bars and later deported to Ukraine.
‘It has been a breath of contemporary air ever since’, he confessed, talking about how his father’s absence opened an entire new world of prospects and experiences for him.
Regardless of making pals and making an attempt quick meals for the primary time, Richard described himself in his adolescence as ‘socially inept’ – a high quality he blames on the militant atmosphere he was raised in.
Richard says he was pressured to coach for a number of hours a day and needed to observe a strict food plan
Richard Sandrak (L) and Marc John Jeffries arrive on the Premiere Of Get Wealthy Or Die Making an attempt at Grauman’s Chinese language Theater on November 2, 2005 in Hollywood, California
Richard, aged 9, pictured together with his mother and father Pavel and Lena Sandrak and his sister Anastasia
Hulk Hogan and Richard Sandrak pictured collectively in Los Angeles in 2005
Richard additionally got here to the realisation that bodybuilding had by no means been his ardour, giving up the game aged 16.
‘Weightlifting was nearly like PTSD in a way. It was related to my previous,’ he stated.
He finally turned away from the limelight and has lived a quiet existence ever since.
However regardless of being free of his father’s abuse, Richard has nonetheless needed to battle a number of demons.
Having tasted his first sip of alcohol on the age of 9 and surrounded by the drug and drink-fuelled occasion way of life that comes with being a toddler star, Richard discovered himself combating alcoholism.
At his lowest level, he would drink an entire bottle of tequila a day, which he stated distracted him from his disappointment.
However after hitting ‘all-time low’, Richard determined to stop ingesting, and has been sober for over a 12 months.
Regardless of having turned his again on bodybuilding, Richard is now contemplating a profession as a private coach or a nutritionist.
He lives together with his girlfriend and their two cats in Los Angeles and is presently working as a retail supervisor.
‘Once I look again in any respect I’ve been by, it seems like I’m trying again at a unique particular person’s life. And I’d say I’m principally proud of the particular person I’m as we speak.’
