At Five, He Was Called the World's Strongest Child. A Guinness Record Made Him Famous. What Happened Next?

Giuliano Stroe became a global fitness sensation at just five years old. In 2008, videos showed the Romanian child lifting heavy weights, using gym machines and performing exercises that included pull-ups, 90-degree push-ups and routines on gymnastic rings.

His fame grew in 2009, when he entered Guinness World Records after completing the fastest 10-meter walk while holding a weighted ball between his legs. Italian television broadcast the feat, which quickly attracted international media attention. In 2010, he broke his own mark by completing the most consecutive 90-degree push-ups without letting his legs touch the ground.

The training also raised questions about the demands placed on such a young child and turned attention toward his father, Julián, who supervised the sessions. His father said Giuliano trained willingly, under adult supervision and with safety measures. He said the boy could stop lifting when he became tired and play instead. Giuliano's younger brother, Claudio, also became known for joining the routines, with both boys aspiring to become bodybuilders.

The controversy reached beyond sport. Romanian news sites reported that the family risked losing custody after citizens filed complaints about the training. Child protection officials carried out several inspections and concluded that Giuliano faced no immediate danger, after which the family stepped away from public attention.

Routine medical checks in 2017 reportedly found “serious problems with muscle and bone development.” Health professionals advised Giuliano to significantly reduce the weight of his dumbbells and bars. He is now 22 and lives with his family in Italy. The source says he has stated that he never faced pressure from his family.

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serious problems with muscle and bone development