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>> Reporter: It's Little Hercules,
all grown up with a beard and ponytail
Richard Sandrak was once famous for
being the strongest boy in the world.
At age eight, he had bulging biceps like a
champion bodybuilder, washboard abs and
moved like a contortionist.
So what's he doing now?
>> Richard: Set myself on fire.
>> Reporter: That's him Little Hercules is now a fire diver for Universal Studios Hollywood Waterworld show.
>> Richard: The first time was very scary. All I could think about
was you know follow the safety
procedures.
>> Reporter: As a stuntman, Richard is set on fire up to five times a day.
He's shot at and plunges headfirst off a platform
50 feet below. But here's a shocker he's
given up weightlifting.
You don't lift weights anymore?
>> Richard: I don't lift weights anymore. If anything it just got boring to me.
>> Reporter: As a child, Richard's father Pavel was in charge of his strict weightlifting routine.
He was widely criticized for pushing his young son too hard.
>> Richard: People try to make me seem to be as some sort of freak of nature.
When there are many kids that were that had very similar physique.
>> Reporter: When Richard turned 11, his father went to prison
for domestic violence for beating Richard's mother.
That's when Richard cut all ties with
his dad and stopped bodybuilding.
When you meet someone today do you hope that they don't bring up Little Hercules?
>> Richard: I'm very proud of my past, it's not something that I don't want anybody to know anymore.
It's just that I'm not going to be stuck living in it.
Now at age 23, Richard stands six feet tall. Gone are the washboard abs. But he's still in
great shape for cardio he skateboards
and he runs up and down stairs to keep
up his strength training Richard does
chin-ups.
If you could have your dream job today
what would it be?
>> Richard: Quantum scientists, for more
specifically maybe even an engineer for NASA.
>> Reporter: Well we didn't see that coming.
And do you see that becoming a reality?
>> Richard: Absolutely. There's no reason they couldn't be.
>> Reporter: Still to the world he will always be Little Hercules.
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