An eight-year-old Hercules has become an Internet sensation after a picture of his toned physique went viral.
Pint-sized Brandon Blake has the defined physique of a professional athlete – despite only being at infants school.
But instead of playing with toys, the youngster prefers to spend his spare time on his chin-up bar or trampoline.
Brandon, who weighs 25kg, has achieved his shape through calisthenics – exercise which doesn’t need any equipment.
It is a popular form of exercise use by global fitness figure Frank Medrano, who came across Brandon last week.
The mini muscle man, from Kildare, Ireland, is now picking up international recognition after US star Medrano shared a picture of him on Facebook.
The mocked-up picture showed the two side-by-side – with little Brandon looking like a scaled- down version of his hero.
Medrano wrote: “Ran into this lil guy’s Instagram and put a big smile in my face Only 7 years old this lil man Brandon showing some dedication.
“Feels great to influence such a young generation and I hope he’s living a happy and healthy life.”
It has been shared almost 5,500 times with people logging on to rave about the little lad’s shape.
Proud dad Mark, 32, a former semi-pro footballer, said: “Frank Medrano spotted him on Instagram and took a screengrab and put it on Facebook.
“It went viral and people were talking about Brandon in Hong Kong and Australia. It was crazy.
“Brandon was just delighted he was noticed by his hero. Not that he needed it, but it’s motivated him even more.
“He’s a very active little boy and he doesn’t do any weights. He is into gymnastics and that is where his physique comes from.
“He’s developed it over the past year – it is crazy looking at him. Brandon is happy and healthy and his core strength is amazing, he is an inspiration.
“I put on a lot of weight and Brandon actually motivated me to lose it. He has been my son and my mentor.
“But he is just an ordinary little boy who loves playing with his friends.
“There is a small element of people who are saying it is bad, but it is not – I think it sends a positive message.”
Brandon has a healthy diet consisting of cereal in the morning, fruit throughout the day and meat and two veg of an evening.
He is not really into sweets, but will normally have some on a Friday as a treat.
Mark added: “Brandon is very well behaved for an eight-year-old. He’s energetic, but respectful. He likes to look after his little sister Sienna, who is two.
“He is a very determined little boy. I’ll come home and see he’s on a chin-up bar saying he has just done 50.
“When he brings his friends around I almost trip over them as they’re all doing press-ups. We have to encourage him to of and play on his Xbox.”
