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Mini Mr Universe - strange or child abuse? [UPDATED]

Oct 26 10:11pm

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Meet five-year-old Giuliano Stroe, a little boy with a six pack and muscle bound arms.

He has just been named the strongest kid in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Watch the routine of training he goes through and decide for yourself if the practice is strange or just wrong...

Our experts this morning explain why they think the child's routine are unwise.

 

"If we do too much too early we have the potential to tuurn them off for life," says Dr Carolyn Broderick, Specialist Paediatric Sports Medicine Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

Dr Broderick says there's no hard evidence about the impact such intense training has on young bodies there has been some studies that have looked at child gymnasts which might suggest they don't grow much.

"Parents need to be on the lookout for over training." These include drops in educational standards, or recurrent injury.

Dr Patsy Tremayne, a Sports Psychologist from University Western Sydney and NSW Institute of Sport, agrees.

"He's not getting the opportunity to play. He's not a miniature adult. He has a right to play," she says.

"Children want fun."

 

8 Comments Report Abuse
1. h1982chick - Oct 27 07:17am
It's extreme but isn't it extreme for kids to be obese at five? If he is enjoying body building and all exercises are medically approved for him, I say good him! As an aunt of an obese child, I'd rather see a child fit and happy and not have to deal with the taunts and challenges of the bullies.
2. garycaroline62 - Oct 27 07:53am
I am from Circus Sunrise and all of our kids started to train at a very young age. They could do handstands at the age of five.
My wife who is 14th generation circus and would do 300 pushups at the age of 7. She is now 48 and has the body of an 18 year old.
She still performs on the trapeze.
3. madeezi - Oct 27 07:58am
What is wrong with a child being active. if the father was feeding him un heaslthy foods they would be saying that its abuse. the child looks happy and full of life is that abuse. And these 2 proffessionals on your show saying that weights isnt enjoyable its a active sport.
4. itsjimmyy - Oct 27 08:56am
Your guests presented a very narrow view - millions of people around the world DO find strenuous exercise, including weightlifting, very enjoyable - with that audience at least, they have undermined their credibility. And kids have trained hard for centuries, it's not new! Gymnastics, ballet etc
5. dyan_parslow@y7mail.com - Oct 27 09:03am
Disgusting for a child of that age. I think his father is trying to get him to do what he couldn't. He should be out playing with his mates at that age and enjoying being a child.
6. lofty_720 - Oct 27 09:14am
I wouldn't say it's aduse, but the time effort the kid would most likely puts into weight lifting routines, he would miss out on a childhood of fun and I don't know a kid that would wake up and say I want to be ripped (muscular) from head to roe.
This kid needs a real childhood of fun not work.
7. kerry.garnham - Oct 27 10:01am
My son is 11 and naturally very lean, he has had a six pack for ages yet he eats more than I do. He loves weights (it was on the top of his Christmas wish list last year) and also does kung fu. He has played soccer and wants to try AFL next season. So am I abusing him? Dont think so...
8. practicalfirstaid - Oct 27 08:42pm
Welcome to the most over governed regulated country in the world , where everybody is an expert , yes there is a limited risk of problems with the growth plates , more of a risk of obesity , diabetes , dont go outdoors kids stay indoors go to the shopping centre and become a good little consumer ,
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