A Russian sumo wrestler who was once called ‘the world’s strongest child’, who was only 6 years old and weighed 210 pounds, has died at 21, according to a report.
Dzhambulat Khatokhov became a heavyweight sensation when he was 3 and shot to stars around the world amid concerns about his health, reports East2West News.
Betal Gubzhev, 29, president of the Sumo and Mass Wrestling Federation of Kabardino-Balkaria, the region where Khatokhov lived, announced his death.
The cause was not disclosed, but he apparently suffered from severe kidney problems.
Known as Dzhambik and nicknamed Gladiator by his schoolmates at age 9, he weighed about 320 pounds – more than the combined total of four fellow students.
His mother, Nelya, has fallen back on reports that she is neglecting his health.
“He just grows – up and out. What can I do about it? That’s who he is, that’s how God created him, ‘she said.
In 2009, a British doctor warned that the boy’s condition was serious.
“His weight means he has a much increased risk of diabetes, cancer and heart disease,” said Dr. Ian Campbell said. “Due to the fact that he is so heavy so young, his life expectancy is likely to be significantly reduced.”
Khatokhov’s first wrestling coach said it was difficult to train him.
“He usually runs and gymnastics, but I do not give him complete exercises,” said Khasan Teusvazhukov, 48. “In any case, he will not be able to do most of this because of his size.
“We try to be careful with him. “The doctors can say he is doing well, but he does not look like that and I do not want to harm him,” he added.
But his mother said Moscow doctors could not find any medical problems causing his extreme weight gain.
“We went through different investigations. “Every doctor wanted to find something to explain why Dzhambik is so big,” she said at the time.
“None of them discovered anything. “When he was 5, I took him to Moscow clinics where we did all the available tests, organ scans and hormones,” she added.
‘But it showed that he was absolutely healthy and that his heart, liver and all the others were proportional to his size. They say he’s healthy, so I’m not worried. I believe he will lead a long and happy life, ‘said Nelya.
She also vehemently denied that she put him on steroids.
“I can not say how it happens. He just got bigger and bigger – up and out. God created him that way, ”she said.