The Ukrainian-American, born in 1992, spent years being called the “world’s strongest boy” and “Little Hercules.”
But behind the spotlight, Richard's childhood was a series of haunting days. He was homeschooled, friendless, and subjected to a strict no-salt, no-sugar diet. Richard trained for 7 hours a day, performing 600 push-ups and 300 squats.
Richard's father was hot-tempered and abusive. A normal training session could turn disastrous if he became enraged. Once, Richard had to train for 12 hours straight. At age 9, he was forced to squat continuously throughout an entire movie.
“I became accustomed to it because my entire childhood was like that. I had nothing to compare it to, no friends to tell me ‘that’s not normal’,” he said.
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Richard Sandrak was once known as the world's strongest boy for his weight. Photo: Metro |
Richard Sandrak was once known as the world's strongest boy for his weight. Photo: Metro
In 2003, at age 11, Richard called the police after witnessing his father assault his mother. His father was jailed and deported to Ukraine. “From that moment, I could finally breathe,” he said. His tyrannical father’s absence allowed Richard to attend school for the first time, eat what he wanted, and make his first friend.
At 16, Richard left weightlifting behind, exploring gymnastics, swimming, basketball, and skateboarding. However, his childhood of excessive training left lasting damage on his knees and ankles. At 18, he chose a normal life, working as a chef and pursuing his passion for food.
But alcohol cast a shadow over his life. Introduced to alcohol by his father at 9, and growing up amidst the party culture of Hollywood child stars, Richard became addicted. “Alcohol was a huge part of who I was. Whatever I did, I had to have it with me,” he admitted.
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Richard (left) with actor Lorenzo Henrie at an event in 2009. Photo: Metro |
Richard (left) with actor Lorenzo Henrie at an event in 2009. Photo: Metro
For years, Richard lived with depression, tormenting and self-destructive behaviors. After two bouts of kidney stones due to alcohol and stress, he decided to quit drinking on 31/10/2023.
Looking back, Richard believes his tragic experiences stemmed from his controlled childhood. “When someone is forced to live according to another’s will, the psychological burden is immense. That's why many famous children turn to addiction to escape reality,” he said.
Richard now lives with his lawyer girlfriend and two cats in Los Angeles. In his free time, he plays golf, basketball, climbs, and is gradually returning to training. He's considering new career paths as a nutrition coach or actor.
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Richard (right) now leads a normal life after successfully overcoming alcohol addiction. Photo: Metro |
Richard (right) now leads a normal life after successfully overcoming alcohol addiction. Photo: Metro
Richard remains close to his mother, who helped him through those hellish years.
“When I look back on everything I’ve been through, I feel like I’m looking at someone else's life. And I can say I’m mostly happy with the person I am today,” he said.
Bao Nhien (Metro)
