Richard Sandrak was considered the 'strongest boy in the world' in the 1990s, often compared to a mini Schwarzenegger – he was also known as 'Little Hercules' back then. From the young age of just five, he trained daily. By the age of eight, he already showed impressive abdominal and chest muscles while lifting three times his body weight. That child is now 32 years old and speaks about his former life. Like many child stars, his life has since changed.
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Daily training as a child
Richard Sandrak became a global phenomenon as a boy, participating in bodybuilding competitions and meeting celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno. However, behind this success lies a life marked by abuse and a relentless training regimen enforced by his father.
Richard reveals that he often had to endure the training against his will and suffered both physical and emotional abuse. He was forced to take steroids and grew up in an environment without toys. He revealed in an exclusive with the Metro:
When people talk about a childhood memory, it’s usually associated with something positive. I can’t really relate. For me, it was a daily occurrence to where I was physically and emotionally abused by my dad.
Both him and his mother were abused, and eventually it landed his father in jail after Sandrak decided to call the cops. He said:
We [Richard has a younger sister, Anastasia] didn’t grow up knowing we could call the police.
But the abuse was getting worse and I just remember sitting by the phone, trying to make that decision,’ he recalls. ‘And I called them, told them not to sound their sirens, and they came and they took him away. It’s been a breath of fresh air ever since.
Life today is rather quiet
The life of Richard now is starkly different to that of his childhood. He left bodybuilding and weightlifting at the age of 16, embarked on different career paths, from being a stuntman to chef, and is considering his options as a nutritionist, personal trainer, or even a return to the spotlight as an actor. The 32-year-old currently lives with his lawyer girlfriend in Los Angeles with their two cats.
While he's navigating his life, he has also had to deal with the physical and mental consequences of his tough childhood. Indeed, when Richard turned 18 he started consuming excessive alcohol, which then developed into an addiction. He eventually had the courage to reach out for help after he suffered from kidney stones.
Looking back, Richard said he realised that fame often proves to be more of a curse than a blessing for many children. He said:
My dad had a profound effect and being famous puts you into peculiar places; a lot of the people I was associated with, also did heavy drug use or were at parties all the time. It becomes a normal thing at a young age.
He still finds himself in the lengthy process of healing and personal growth, discovering joy in sports and his social life along the way. He emphasised that he strives to live a fulfilling life, free from the shadows of his past.
Richard and his mother have also strongly bonded through these difficult times. Despite his tragic story, he has not lost hope for a beautiful and healing future.
This article has been translated from Oh!MyMag DE.
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Sources used:
blick.ch: Die tragische Geschichte des einst «stärksten Jungen der Welt»
t-online: Was wurde aus dem stärksten Kind der Welt?
Metro: Child bodybuilder ‘Little Hercules’ went viral in the 90s – but what happened next?
Esslinger Zeitung: Gewalt und Missbrauch – Richard Sandrak erzählt seine Geschichte
