5-Year-Old Gymnast a Worldwide Sensation, But at What Price?

by Mark Hyman (Subscribe to Mark Hyman's posts) Oct 29th 2009 12:10PM

Categories: Kids 5-7, Development, Weird But True, Extreme Childhood, Amazing Kids, Sports

At age 5, most kids are reading Dr. Seuss, if they can read at all. The next book Giuliano Stroe cracks open might be the Guinness Book of World Records.

That's because Giuliano is entered in a highly improbable category for a kindergartner: Hand walking. The little guy holds the world record -- 10 meters (or 33 feet) for walking on his hands.

Forgot to mention: With a weight ball between his legs.

That isn't Giuliano's only claim to fame. These days, the Romanian-born gymnastic prodigy is a YouTube sensation with the little guy showing off his washboard abs and an array of scary tricks in more than 60 videos. As of this morning, one of those -- showing Giuliano doing back flips off a kitchen table -- has been watched an astonishing 4.2 million times. So, hurray for Giuliano who obviously packs big talent in that little, muscle-bound body.

But we wanted to hear from a grown-up in that family.

ParentDish reached Giuliano's father and coach, Iulian Stroe to ask why he's training his 5-year-old like a Navy SEAL.

He told us that there isn't anything excessive about his son's workout routine and that people misjudge him and his young son.

"It's not wrong what we do, because I did the same things [when] I was a little boy and I am healthy and strong," Stroe wrote in an e-mail.

He doesn't pay much attention to critics who don't know anything about him or his son.

"They say these things because they are lazy people. They find motivation in not doing sport."

Stroe lives with his family in Italy; he coaches his son five days a week, with sessions lasting three hours. Giuliano has a 3-year-old workout partner, his younger brother, Claudio.

And what does the boys' mother think of her little ones hand-standing and back-flipping around the kitchen?

"She is very proud," according to Stroe.

Sports prodigies are rare, of course. But some parents are working just as hard as the Stroes to turn their little ones into sports champs. Keith O'Dell Jr., a 2-year-old pool shark, chalks up his cue two- to three hours a day.

The world's youngest boxer may be 7-year-old Wayne "Bam Bam" "Pretty Boy" Lawrence, who in addition to ring skills, has his own Web site, a hit single and has been featured in a documentary.

Then there's four-year-old tennis whiz Mia Lines, who already has a career ambition: Win Wimbledon.

ParentDish sports reporter Mark Hyman is the author of Until It Hurts: America's Obsession With Youth Sports and How It Harms our Kids (Beacon Press).

Have a suggestion for an article on youth sports? Contact Mark at pdyouthsports@aol.com.

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Comments (105)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)

SKL 10-29-2009 @ 5:00PM

I don't really think 3 hours out of 24 is excessive exercise for a 5-year-old. More kids should be as active.

The child is a prodigy and presumably enjoys his sport. What is the problem? I think people are just jealous. If they / their kids can't do it, it must be too hard, because who could be better than them / their kids? I'm not saying parents never push their kids too hard, but why do we always assume that must be what's happening? Some kids are just plain talented.

My 3-year-old daughter has an amazing amount of strength and agility. She can do things I never could do at any age - and she comes up with much of this stuff on her own. She hardly has an ounce of fat on her body. Nobody pushes her. It's just who she is. She attends a weekly gymnastics class and also dance - because she loves exploring new ways to use her body. If she decides to compete someday, more power to her. If others don't like it, they needn't watch.

doc 10-31-2009 @ 11:02PM

This is similar to the "Little Hercules" kid that played Little Tarzan. Do people not realize that this kid is receiving some sort of either growth hormone or anabolic steroid!?! Basic physiology states that for the muscle to grow to that extreme after it's broken down requires basic hormones. He's five people!! Hence, no hormone production yet! That flat out proves that he's being supplemented something - and that something is illegal. They should test him out and if the substances are found in him they should throw the parents UNDER the jail!

nkusch 10-30-2009 @ 4:39PM

I think its wonderful that a parent spends this much time with his child. He is giving the child focus. How many 5 years old do you know who are not energic and don't know what to do with all that energy. This is a wonderful avenue, and the child seems to be enjoying it. At least the father spends time with his child and is teaching him something. Leave them alone for pete's sake!!!!!

Grover 10-30-2009 @ 5:15PM

I Totally agree with You and Both children mentioned doing these Physical things.
I was the runt on the Block as a Kid. My nickname was Rat, because I was skinny and always sick. I had a desease as a 2nd grader that rendered me helpless and semi comatose for a Year.
I was the kid everyone picked on. Ge the Drift?
After the sickness, being laughed at for any reason, being beat up by not only My peers, but even high school Bully's Plus, Hating to Fight, I imposed The Toughest Physical measuring up to these creeps I could. I fought back, and after several lost bouts, I found a strength that gave me a reputation of "Don't mess with Him, he doesn't give up."
In High school, I was the Open defender of smaller or weaker kids. Their age didn't matter. If a small Guy or Girl was pushed around and I found out, the Bully would have to Face me. Peroid. No exceptions.
Then one day I learned of a Birth defect in My Lower spine. No Tail Bone.
Climbing steps, I would miss a step because I had difficulty normally lifting My foot to the next step.
Going to the Dr I was told, Your back is Very strong. The Tendon's are nearly the size of a Pencil, where most people's are half or more less this size. With out Your obvious Back strength, You would have stopped walking many years ago.
I am 67 now, My walking is limited, I have a calcified herat valve, But, I still cut My own Grass using My Power wheel chair. Believe me, it is a tougher job than doing it walking.
I can do this because; Number one I am not a quiter. I do not say, its to hard for me.
The Young years of My life were filled with strenuous exercises.
Can You do 1,000- 6 count rocking chairs?
Bless Your kids with plenty of Back strengthening exercises. You never know How much they will be Blessed later.
I could talk about severl things I have done by being Strong, and One of God's children, but you wouldn't believe it.
Have a Great Life.
Grover

dixie 10-30-2009 @ 4:53PM

Early weight training stunts growth. (Height) I bet Dad's a shorty too.

Doc 10-30-2009 @ 6:04PM

I see nothing wrong with this child working -out that much.. Its apparent that this child is not from the USA.. He's not into Video Games & is Active.. I'm interested in seeing whats gonna happen in the Future.. Mabey some of the Parents in the USA could take note and Try to get there children to be more Active.. It would cut down on The Obese children in this Country

inga 10-30-2009 @ 8:12PM

I think it is absolutely GREAT what that kid is doing!!! Yes more kids should really be involved in things like that. I have a 5 year old daughter that has been doing ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, hip hop and gymnastics since she was 3. She knew at a young age that she wanted to dance but was too young for me to sign her up. I started her out with only 1 class per week and now she is there 6 days a week participating in at least 2 dance classes a day and one day of stretch class. She is doing amazing things for a child her age and I am very impressed with her and her instructors!!! she is the one that wanted to dance so I gave her a try and I am very happy for that!!! So continue to train your son to be the best he can be. I feel the younger we start our kids in some type of physical activity...the better. That way they will not have time to become LAZY!!! Keep it up!!

Jennifer 10-31-2009 @ 9:04PM

Well, we are not talking about your girl. Geeeesh.

Eddie 11-03-2009 @ 1:09AM

I completely agree. I see this problem all the time around here. Parents have no problem with their kids playing video games until their eyes explode, but when it comes to them doing physically challenging things, then all of sudden they are protective. This is why kids outside of America are faster, stronger, smarter, happier and more well-balanced. Americans are paranoid, blindly patriotic and lazy as a whole. FORZA ITALIA!!

dmg 11-01-2009 @ 2:01AM

What's wrong with this? He's five years old and he's lifting weights. At this age bones are mostly cartilage and the kind of strain this kid is putting on them is enough to deform them and causes health problems for the rest of his life.

LS 10-30-2009 @ 10:05AM

I'm the daughter of a former gymnastics coach. By age 5, I was doing many of the things that little boy is doing (flip-flops, handsprings, etc.. that planche he has is pretty rockin' though! I couldn't do that.)

The only problems I can see with this kid are the weightlifting and the flip-flops on the table.

First off, weightlifting can, and does, put a lot of stress on a body. It's one thing for this little guy to use his own weight, but to add weight... I just hope dad is being very, very careful about that.

And doing flip-flops on the kitchen table is just stupid, unless it's bolted down. I don't know about theirs, but one good, quick move will cause my kitchen table to shift, and that could be the difference between a successful trick and a broken bone. Stick with the mats and the proper equipment, and I don't have a single problem with it.

joe 10-30-2009 @ 11:16PM

I totally agree. The only other thing I would add is that the meat head father is probably going to mold him into the biggest douche bag in the world but other than that this is cool.

echeaz 10-31-2009 @ 11:49PM

Three cheers for the lady! Hip hip hooray! And I'm sure that by you learning gymnastics at a young age, your body has grown lean and strong. No doubt you will pass on your wonderful genetic legacy to your own little ones! IT'S CALLED EVOLUTION PEOPLE!

S.D. 10-30-2009 @ 2:10PM

Gross!! This little kid is a freak!

Midnight 10-30-2009 @ 2:11PM

so this is how night club bouncers are made......

Alissa 10-30-2009 @ 5:16PM

your funny! Not a bad idea tho.. start em young right!

Marlene Harvey 10-30-2009 @ 2:20PM

This child (and his sibling) most likely has a condition called Myostatin Related Muscle Hypertrophy. It causes increased muscle size and strength and decreased body fat. It is not known to be harmful but as genetic testing becomes more used in competitive sports it may be a disqualifying condition in the future. It gives a true biological advantage that no competitor can match, no matter what they do. The condition is hereditary and to have muscle development to the degree that this young boy does, his mother would have to be a carrier of the condition. His father could either be a carrier or also have the condition himself. A child without this condition could not develop the musculature that this boy has no matter how many hours he trained.

originlcin 10-30-2009 @ 3:14PM

Or daddy the coach is slipping sonny a little chemical help.

erock32 10-30-2009 @ 4:49PM

b.s....its lazy people like you that make excuses for not being as good as someone else at something...nothing this little man did is wrong or unhealthy, i suppose we should just all be fat and lazy, afterall, that is the new trend here in america so let's just push that on the rest of the world too