Back in the early 2000s, an eight-year-old boy took the world by storm with a body unlike anyone his age. He shocked people with his ripped and intimidating muscles that belonged to a pro bodybuilder. Richard Sandrak was dubbed “Little Hercules” and “The World’s Strongest Boy.” But if you remember him, you might be wondering, where is he now?
What Happened to Little Hercules?
Fast forward 20 years later, and Richard Sandrak is all grown up. His transformation is stunning but not exactly how everyone would imagine. Some time after getting the attention of the media, his name went under the radar because of serious life events. Now 32 years old, Richard has no interest in bodybuilding and his chiseled physique has disappeared.
After all of his childhood struggles, it’s no wonder that Richard decided to drop the title of Little Hercules. In an interview with Inside Edition, he said that lifting weights “got boring” after his father went to prison.
Sandrak landed a job at Universal Studios Waterworld and participates in the Waterworld show, which involves performing high-risk stunts. He’s now living a normal life as a stuntman who dreams of being a quantum scientist or a NASA engineer. According to his LinkedIn profile, he also works as a stunt performer for Action Horizons, an industry leader in live action stunts.
Why He Left Bodybuilding – Pressure From a Young Age
Richard is the son of Pavel Sandrak, a former Taekwondo world champion, and Lena Sandrak, an aerobics instructor. However, genetics is not the main reason why he had such a unique body for a young boy. At his peak, Richard reportedly had a body fat percentage of just 1%, raising health concerns among medical professionals.
Most people spend their toddler years doing silly things like playing house and eating candy. But not Richard. These years were when he was introduced to working out by his mom and dad. And his routine was intense. By the time he was six, the kid could lift 82 kilograms without breaking a sweat.
His daily routine included up to 600 push-ups and sit-ups, along with 300 squats. Even though at 15, he stated that he did extreme physical training for fun on his own accord, there’s no denying the fact that he was given a strict diet as a child.
Living with an Abusive Father
Pavel was an abusive husband and was imprisoned for hurting his wife when their son was 11 years old. Richard was the one who called the police to save his mother and prevent further violence. After this experience, he had no contact with his father.
Some speculated that Pavel had hit Richard, but this was never confirmed. In an interview, Lena stated that Pavel never got physically abusive with their son. Still, some of the child’s exercises were very harsh. This includes sleeping on the ground to strengthen his posture.
Sandrak’s enormous muscles were even rumored to be the result of more than just hard work. Health experts questioned the kid’s ability to achieve such a body without the use of steroids. Again, Lena denied this speculation.
