World’s Strongest Kid: World’s Most Boneheaded Parents?
By: Keith
There’s a Romanian born Italian kid with a, surprise, gymnast father who is claiming to be the world’s strongest 5 year old. Judging by his photo I wouldn’t doubt it; the kid is ripped. On Italian TV he did 20 air press-ups (that’s where you do a pushup with only your hands touching the ground, no feet). That seems like a pretty niche talent. It also seems completely stupid and, frankly, the kid, who I genuinely feel bad for, doesn’t impress me as anything other than an oddity. I’m not wowed by his strength or impressing with his muscle tone or his training. I feel sorry for him because the truly interesting part of this story (reported on here) is the last paragraph.
The previously touted world’s strongest kid, American Richard Sandrak, is 17 now and reportedly doesn’t have any interest in weightlifting. Is anybody surprised that these kids always seem to be pushed by their parents? Is anybody at all interested in why a parent would allow his kid to pursue an activity that isn’t healthy in the first place? I’m not saying weight lifting isn’t healthy. Heck, I lift weights. I’m saying nobody in their right mind would have a 5 year old lifting with that sort of intensity. The article only reports what his father says about the boy’s everyday activities, that if exercising (vigorous exercise obviously) gets too boring for Giuliano that they stop. Why is he even doing it in the first place? The father will say it’s because the kid really wants to and he isn’t standing in his way. I’ve heard that before, and it’s always BS. The fact is that the father should stand up and dictate to his son that the greatest weight lifters and athletes in the world didn’t start training with that sort of intensity until their teens. Take any sport as an example. Starting too young is never healthy.
Back in 1997 the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) raised the minimum age for female gymnasts to 16 because they recognize the dangers of intense competition and training for kids who aren’t mentally and physically ready for it. Gymnastics, of all sports, should get it. The Romanians admitted to cheating on athlete ages back in the 80′s. China has recently been told to vacate a bronze medal from 2000 because an athlete of theirs, Dong Fangxiao, was 14 at the time. We all know about the suspicions during the 2008 Olympics that the Chinese were faking birth certificates for their athletes. The FIG is investigating those cases too, and they take it seriously because it’s a matter of child welfare. The United States, just to prove we aren’t saints either, even tried to have a 12 year old compete back in the 70′s (I can’t remember her name though). Whenever the interests of children are put aside because of politics, national pride, the ego of a parent or any other reason, something is seriously wrong. I don’t think the focus of the article should have been the feat of 20 weird push-ups. It should have been the mentality of the family to even be pushing that agenda in the first place. Nobody can convince me that a 5 year old has the mental capacity to make wise decisions concerning his own health (I don’t believe the kid is calling the shots anyway); that’s for the parents to dictate. They’re doing it wrong.
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It’s SICK! I am so tired of dumb-ass parents living through their kids!!! The little beauty queens are another barf inducing parent driven act of lunacy! Just because someone is able to reproduce doesn’t mean they should. Yeah, kids like to run in the streets too, you morons!
Mom: I should write a post about the whole beauty queen thing too. That totally fits the same mold.
What she said!
It is odd to read stories like that because you know that no 5 year old would choose to do that on thier own. It is all about the parent and very strange.
.-= Seattledad (Luke, I am Your Father)´s last blog ..Thine Eyes have Seen the Beauty =-.
LIAYF: Totally! No 5 year old kid would willingly do that to themselves.
I saw the kid on the news too. Glad I’m not the only person who thinks the dad is nuts for letting his kid go to that extreme. Working out is one thing, getting ripped at age five is kinda weird and just not right.
.-= Daddy Forever´s last blog ..Marvel Super Hero Squad Video Game Review =-.
Ken: Whenever I see stories like this it makes me sad and angry at the same time. How can some parents be so selfish and how can they not see the damage they’re doing to their kids. not right at all. Thanks for another comment!
Hey Keith! gotta catch up… You have been posting like mad.
As you know kids sports is something I am quite interested in. I love to see my kids excel in anything they choose but that is the key… “They choose” I have actually reigned in my oldest because she wants to do too much soccer, she just won’t stop but she needs the down time.
No child should be training like an adult, it is simple as that and if making it to the big leagues means putting a child’s physical health at risk then we live in a twisted society.
.-= Parenting Old School´s last blog ..Social Networking =-.
you dont kno nothing about this kid, for your information he like working out an his parents dont make him do it. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT
once again peopel go and critisize his parents, his parents dont force him to work out, he actually loves to work out. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT
Nick: I did get my facts straight. If you’ll notice, this was an OPINION piece.
this kid is nothing neither was the richard sandrak kid i’d woop them bothand i dont take pills like sandrak did orf so i heard he did. and it is sad that a parent would make their kid get worked to death and the kids only 5 so give him a brake.
q niño tan estupido el de arriba eso es elasticida