‘Little Hercules’ was known as “The World’s Strongest Boy’ – sit down before you see him today, age 30

Many were under the impression that Richard was forced into working out, that wasn’t the case, according to Little Hercules himself. He’s now 30 years of age, and, though yet to turn 30, he’s lived an extraordinary life.

So what happened to Little Hercules? Well, here’s the incredible story of his life to date!

Richard Sandrak was born on April 15, 1992, in Ukraine. As a very young boy, physical fitness was incorporated into his lifestyle. His mother, Lena, was an aerobics competitor, his father, Pavel, a former world champion in martial arts.

Drilled from the age of 2

Since his father was a martial arts specialist, Richard started working out far earlier than most others. His parents drilled him in flexibility and strength when he turned two years of age, around the same time that the family moved to Pennsylvania.

There, his parents formed a dream for their son. According to a 2007 piece by The Guardian, they harbored hopes of moving to California, aiming to get good publicity for their son as he slowly morphed into a young bodybuilder.

Richard’s father, Pavel, was heavily criticized at the time and accused of drilling his son too hard. He had enormous muscles for such a young boy, and some even speculated that he had taken steroids to become that ripped. His parents, however, vehemently denied this.

In a 2009 BBC interview, Little Hercules himself set the record straight on the idea that he was forced into working out as much as he did.

“I’ve never been forced to train or do anything against my will,” he said. “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.”

Though Richard claims he wasn’t forced to work out, his father’s routine was what some would call extreme.

According to The Guardian, he underwent “six or seven hour training regimes” consisting of thousands of press-ups. The young boy didn’t attend school, but was home tutored instead – his father oversaw everything.

Little Hercules – workout routine

In 2004, Richard’s parents’ plan looked to be gaining traction. The documentary The World’s Strongest Boy aired, bringing him plenty of attention. Naturally, the reaction wasn’t all positive, with people wondering out loud if his parents had given him steroids or other supplements to enhance his muscle growth.

In the documentary, viewers saw Little Hercules flexing and posing on a Las Vegas stage. He had an eight-pack abdomen at the time, and looked every inch a miniature Arnold Schwarzenegger.