Richard Sandrak has become known as the worlds strongest boy because of the remarkable strength he has obtained through his childhood. Born in Ukraine Richard moved the United States with his parents, Pavel and Lena in search of a better life. His father Pavel was a World Martial Arts Champion and was obsessed with physical fitness. Richard’s mother Lena was an Aerobics competitor. Richard parents began training him at a very young age. At only two months old Richard’s mother would stretch her son two times a day to increase his flexibility. By the age of two years he began doing like exercise and martial art skills. As a toddler Richard showed great interest in lifting weights. Over the next few years his training increase up to very intense body building workouts. Richard trained continuously throughout his childhood to obtain an impressive physique.
Richards family then risked everything they had and moved from Pennsylvania to California in hopes of an even better life. By age six Richard was bench pressing more than 4 times his own weight. He still did body building workouts daily. At age seven Richard’s father Pavel sent pictures of Richard to a well known celebrity fitness trainer, Frank Giardina. “At first I thought, ” Is this a midget, or some kind of trick photography,” Frank recalls after first seeing the pictures of young Richard. Frank soon put together a well choreographed performance routine for Richard to preform when he would be unveiled at his first body building event. His body building name was, Little Hercules. Richard became an instant celebrity he was on T.V. in magazines, he endorsed supplements and was now the main attraction at body building events. He was making thousands of dollars a month through endorsements. At age eight Richard was now preforming weekly and could now bench an impressive two hundred and ten pounds. Pound for pound Richard was now the strongest person in the world. He made appearances at events such as Mr. Olympia, Mr. USA, and The Arnold Classic. Richard was on a strict diet ever since he was a toddler and was never allowed to eat such foods as pizza or candy. His father had him eating only formula supplements and vegetables. Richard has also never been allowed to sleep in a bed but on a hardwood floor to help retain his athletic posture. He has had his fame and fortune but it has been at the expense of missing out on every “normal” thing children do daily. Many people consider his treatment nothing short of child abuse.
Richards first agent Frank Giardina eventually quit because after asking Richards father Pavel the ingredients in his supplements Pavel would not answer. Many believed Richard was being fed a anabolic steroid in the form of a powder by his father. Pavel would never even tell Richard or Lena what was in the supplement. At this point Richards body fat was barely 1% a situation that for anyone else could be life threatening. This is why Frank eventually declined to continue working with Richard and his family. Many critics have pointed out that muscle can not grow with out testosterone, which is released in the body with age, fueling the speculation that Pavel was indeed feeding Richard Steroids. Or that Richards age was in fact being with held and he was actually much older that the public knew. But after passing numerous drug and age tests Richard becomes angered when people accuse him of “Cheating. Richard’s Father is now in prison. He accepted a plea bargain and is serving a three year sentence for assaulting his wife. Which seems very minimal for the hell like childhood he has put his son through.
With his father in his life Richard never enjoyed such things as candy, playing with friends, or playing video games. In fact Richard was denied contact with any kids besides his younger sister. He never experience the “normal” things in life. But now that his father is in prison Richard is starting to try to make up what he missed out on. He plays with friends, eats candy and pizza, and loves video games. Although his mother still keeps him on a strict diet, it is nothing compared to what his father had in place. He is in excellent shape still, but has lost some of his perfect physique he once had. He has the look of a normal kid. He still continues to train but at much more moderate levels. He has begun a new program though, working out up to four hours a day, five days a week but he now does more cardiovascular exercises to get into shape for his movie, such as running stairs, pushups, situps, and pull ups. His former trainer Frank Giardina is working with him again. As of 2007 Richard stands five feet one inch, and weighs 122 pounds. His chest measures 38 inches, biceps 13, and thighs 20. He still promotes his own supplements with his own picture of the packaging. He is still and expert martial artist, he can balance on one leg on a basketball with his off leg extended. He owes this to the stretching his mom has done on him since the age of two and she has done the same to Richard’s younger sister. Richard now works with a speech therapist to cure his accent, he hopes to pursue a career as an actor for action films. Currently he is involved in such projects as a training video for kids, one for adults, and him and his mother are co authoring a healthy eating cookbook. Also Richard made an appearance in a Boost Mobile commercial. He has made many appearances some notable ones include, Fox Sports News, 20/20, Today Tonight, and The Howard Stern Show. His Movie is set to premier later this year.
Richard Pavel has had a unique childhood. He has seen the highs of Hollywood and the lows of child abuse. He has been accused of taking steroids and giving false information about his age. Richard has been given the title Worlds Strongest Boy, but through it all Richard is just happy that he can finally do the normal things in life and enjoy being a “normal” kid.
