A man who was once known as the 'world's strongest boy' is leading a very different life now, more than 25 years on from his time in the media spotlight.

Richard Sandrak, who was nicknamed 'Little Hercules', earned the title that would've made him the most popular kid in primary school when he was just eight, but now he has opened up about his childhood and what he is up to these days.

According to the New York Post, Sandrek was born in Ukraine to a martial arts champion father, Pavel Sandrak, and an aerobic-star mother, Lena Sandrak.

Sandrek began lifting weights at the age of 5, and was soon able to bench press three times his own body weight by the time he was 8-years-old.

However, he claimed that he felt like he was in a 'hostage situation' due to his dad pushing him into a bodybuilding career.

His strict regime involved 600 600 push-ups and sit-ups a day, as well as 300 squats.

It was reported at the time that he possessed one percent of body fat at one point - which is considered dangerously low.

He told Metro: "My father would often go into rage fits and what would start as a normal workout ended up with me doing a triple split kick for 12 hours.