There are many different ways we can be strong. Physical strength, with big, strong muscles and powerful bodies, is always impressive, but emotional and mental fortitude are equally inspiring. Strong people come in all shapes and sizes, and even ages too!
We tend to think that strength is something that comes with age, but lots of kids out there are showing amazing power and determination each and every day. These young, strong boys and girls are truly inspirational in so many ways.
Some of them are weightlifters and bodybuilders, while others have overcome major challenges in life or fight against difficult conditions on a regular basis. Then, there are those who have the strength to show amazing maturity, bravery, and kindness to help others.
Here are 60 strong kids who deserve major respect and admiration for their actions.
1) Mega Muscles
At the age of just 12, this boy named Kyle Kane broke a world record by lifting over twice his own body weight! He lifted over 300 lbs in total and has spent many years promoting child fitness and encouraging other kids to try lifting weights and building their muscles.
2) Getting Buff
This little boy’s mom loves to do planks around the home to work on her abs and stay in shape. He decided to start copying her, and we can already see those little biceps building up!
3) A True Lover Of Animals
Many people claim to love animals, but how far would you go to protect them in times of need? This young boy could have taken shelter during a terrible storm with huge waves crashing against the coast, but he saw a pregnant cat about to give birth so he stayed with her and covered her up while she had her kittens.
4) Giving Back
This young boy has brittle bone disease, one of the most painful and challenging diseases for anyone to live with. Charity donations helped him survive, so he decided to give something back, volunteering his own time to help the charity raise money for others going through the same thing.
5) Determination Pays Off In The End
She gets knocked down, but she gets up again! This young fighter spent a whole year at martial arts competitions and tournaments, losing every single fight she entered until finally getting the win she deserved! Most people would have given up and thrown in the towel after losing so many times, but this girl just kept going.
6) The First Step Of Many
This girl hadn’t been able to stand for more than four years, but here she is, smiling happily and finally getting up on her own two feet once more, with the aid of this special walking device.
7) A Heavy Lifter
CJ Cummins has been making waves in the bodybuilding and weightlifting circuits, being known as the strongest teen in all of America and lifting enormous weights despite his young age.
8) A Little Firefighter
Anyone would feel terrified when faced with a housefire, but this 7-year-old boy managed to keep his cool, wake up his father, and get the whole family evacuated in time to save them all.
9) What A Recovery
This little girl had to undergo open heart surgery when she was just a baby. Her delicate body was at great risk during the surgery, but she pulled through and is looking so much better just one year later.
10) Destined For Greatness
This youngster definitely knows how it feels to be strong! He deadlifted over 300 lbs at the age of just 14 and has grown bigger and stronger ever since then. His name is Jake Schellenschlager and he’s a world record holder and competitive bodybuilder.
11) Making A Difference
This young boy battled through a nasty stomach flu at a local children’s hospital. When he got out, he thought of all the other kids having to deal with illnesses and injuries and wanted to do something to help them. He baked cookies and made ice tea to sell, raising several hundred dollars and buying coloring books for other kids to enjoy at the hospital.
12) What A Kind Soul
This amazing little girl heard about hair donations to make wigs for people who have undergone chemotherapy or lost their hair in other ways. She immediately wanted to help out, donating more than 13 inches of hair.
13) The Push Up King
How many push ups can you do right now? 10? 20? Maybe you’re in pretty good shape and can even do 50 or 100. Well, little Andrey Kostash can do thousands! He set a record in his native Ukraine after doing 4,000 push ups in a row.
14) Together
Both of these boys know what strength is all about! Noah and his disabled brother, Lucas, worked together to complete a triathlon together. Noah helped push, tow, and drive Lucas the full length of the course.
15) A Real Life Superhero
If ever your car breaks down, you might wish to have young Yang Jinglong in the area. At the age of just seven, this kid was able to pull a 1.85 ton van! He weighs in at 110 lbs himself and seems to have very unique genes that allow him to bulk up quickly and develop amazing strength despite just being a kid.
16) The Perfect Role Model
This girl looks so happy and proud to be meeting her idol: Moana! They both know how it feels to be strong!
17) The Mighty Russian
Proving that weightlifting and bodybuilding aren’t just for boys, Russian teen Maryana Naumova entered the Arnold Classic at the age of 15 and bench pressed a whopping 331 lbs! She was the first girl aged below 18 to feature in the event.
18) Remarkable Courage
When a heroic young Bangladehi boy saw a baby deer struggling to stay afloat in the flood, he dived in to save it. That took a lot of guts, but both the boy and deer eventually made it to dry land.
19) Powerful Genes
No, this photo hasn’t been photoshopped. Liam Hoekstra actually has biceps like that. He was born with an extremely rare genetic condition, but unlike many other genetic conditions that have negative symptoms and side effects, Liam’s condition basically gives him super strength. It’s called muscle hypertrophy and it causes his muscles to develop very quickly while keeping his body fat levels low.
20) Tough Times
As well as physical trauma, kids can suffer from mental and emotional issues too. This little boy had to watch as his parents went through a messy divorce. He saw his family fall apart and fell into a depression, but he made it through and joined the scouts, graduating through the ranks and building his confidence. This photo was taken on his first ever independent week camp!
21) A Future NFL Star
Say hi to CJ Senter. This inspirational kid has been selling his own fitness DVDs since the age of 10. He’s passionate about getting in great shape, avoiding carbs and candy and spending almost all his free time working out. He hopes to play in the NFL someday, and if he carries on like this, he could be a superstar.
22) A Happy Day
Cancer is one of the toughest things anyone can ever have to deal with, and the challenges of the disease are even greater for a child. This young boy suffered from cancer for over three years, but he finally got the all-clear on the day this photo was taken.
23) An Amazing Acrobat
Young Arat Hosseini is an aspiring acrobat unlike any other. Even as a toddler, he was obessed with gymnastics, spinning around gracefully on the trapeze and wowing his friends and family with his incredible flexibility.
24) Good With Dogs
This lovely young lady could have chosen a hundred different ways to spend her free time. She could simply stay home and chat with friends online, but instead, she decided to give up her weekends working as a volunteer at a local animal shelter.
25) Super Siblings
It’s always better to work out with a buddy to help you stay motivated, and these two siblings, named Dylan and Jessica Best, help each other stay fired up in the gym each day. They say they work out for hundreds of hours every month and are both dedicated to being as physically strong as they can be.
26) Saving Lives
Sadly, many animals are abandoned, neglected, and abused, with rescue workers and animal lovers doing what they can to help these unfortunate furry friends find new homes. One boy took it upon himself to start his very own shelter, the ‘Happy Animals Club’. With the support of donors from around the world, this little hard worker has already saved many dogs.
27) Bullied For A Good Cause
Bullying is horrible to deal with at any age, no matter the circumstances, and Christian McPhilamy knew that mean kids were going to pick on him when he decided to grow out his hair in order to make a donation to charity. Even when the bullies were picking on him, he stayed strong.
28) Simply Amazing
This little girl had to stay at the children’s hospital for a while. When she was there, the staff handed her a unicorn teddy that someone had donated. That little stuffed unicorn made her feel so much better, and she wanted to give that same feeling to other kids, so when she was all better, she worked to gather tons more stuffed toys for a super huge donation!
29) The Right Thing
When monsoon season strikes in Mumbai, most people are only out for themselves. They try to rush indoors and seek shelter as quickly as possible, but this little girl decided to stay outside and brave the rain just so she could help this dog stay dry.
30) Incredible Maturity
Plenty of kids have lots of stuffed animals to cuddle up with each night when they go to sleep, but this girl cared for more about real animals than toy ones. She decided to sell all her stuffed toys and donate the profits to a local shelter.
31) Born To Be Strong
Typical teens these days spend a lot of time on video games or hanging out with their friends, but Cosmo Taylor is a fitness enthusiast like no other. He’s got a stunning physique and only 6.5% body fat.
32) What A Turnaround
When she was just a baby, doctors told this girl’s parents that she probably wouldn’t survive. Years later, not only did she prove them wrong and beat the odds, she also won a medal at the Special Olympics!
33) Little Hercules
You might have heard of Richard Sandrak before. This kid went viral years ago for his stunning six pack and bulging biceps, known as the world’s strongest boy for a while. He was even nicknamed Little Hercules and featured in various documentaries. He eventually gave up on bodybuilding but still works out regularly.
34) Inspirational
When danger strikes, would you be willing to put your life on the line to save your pets? This girl didn’t want to leave her puppy behind in a flood, so she placed him in a bowl and carried him to safety.
35) Against All Odds
This boy was born very premature, at just 29 weeks! Doctors said he probably wouldn’t make it, as he was simply so weak and delicate. However, the photo of him smiling was taken on his 5th birthday. He survived and thrived.
36) A Future Writer?
This girl got a special medal for reading 1,000 books before kindergarten! Wow! What an achievement for someone so young. She’s already read more books than a lot of people finish in their entire lives.
37) Buff Brothers
It’s always amazing to see someone pull off a feat of extraordinary strength, like holding a plank pose for a very long time or supporting their whole body weight on the palms of their hands. Giuliano and Claudiu Stroe could do all of that before they were even teenagers.
38) Going The Distance
Many of us can’t even begin to imagine the stresses and pressures that come along with being a refugee, traveling many miles in search of shelter, refuge, and safety. A Syrian teenager named Aslan completed a 500-mile journey to Greece, which is impressive enough on its own, but it’s even more amazing to know that he did it all with his puppy in his arms.
39) 100% Dedication
Some kids play instruments, some kids play sports, some kids just sit at home and watch TV. Naomi Kutin is different. She spent her teenage years in the gym, building up her muscles until she could squat over 200 lbs!
40) A New Look
This girl shaved her entire head in order to donate her hair to make wigs for people who have cancer. She also raised money for charity by getting people to sponsor her shave!
41) The Strongest Girl In The World
Another strong child hailing from Ukraine, Varvara Akulova was once known as the strongest girl on Earth. She’s all grown up now, but when she was just a teenage, she could lift more than four times her bodyweight and credits her strength to genetics and amazing training by her circus performer parents.
42) The Right Choice
A mom took her daughter to the local animal shelter to choose a pet. Most kids would probably gravitate towards the cute kittens and young, playful animals, but this girl wanted to give a home to a cat that didn’t have much of a chance. She chose this 14-year-old furball! It’s a wonderful gesture, as older animals often don’t get picked and spend their whole lives in shelters waiting for forever homes.
43) Changing The World
At the age of just nine, Hailey Fort was doing more for the homeless than most people do in their whole lifetimes. Showing amazing dedication and kindness, this young girl spends her free time building shelters for those who live on the streets and growing food for them to eat as well.
44) A Drastic Change
This 16-year-old knew that his weight was getting out of hand and that his health was suffering as a result, so he decided to make a big change! In just one year, he halved his body weight.
45) A Tight Fit
This little girl didn’t need big biceps to show amazing strength when she saw a bunch of little ducklings trapped in a pipe. She reached down and pulled them all out, saving eight little ducks and setting them free.
46) An Aspiring Artist
This little artist clearly has a lot of talent! She held her first ever public show, displaying her paintings for all to see and selling them on, but instead of keeping the profits for herself, she donated everything to a local charity.
47) Big Things Come In Small Packages
When this 5-year-old’s mom started having a seizure in the swimming pool, she could have screamed, cried, or frozen with fright. Instead, she leaped into action and saved her mama’s life.
48) A Child Hero
Michael Bowron was out for a drive with his dad in the Australian Outback when their truck flipped and Michael’s dad was pinned down. The young boy and his father were miles from any towns or hospitals, but Michael stayed strong to hot-wire the truck’s radio and help his dad contact an ambulance.
49) A Lesson For All Of Us
It’s a shocking but true fact that six children die from choking every month in the US alone, so it’s vital for people to learn the Heimlich maneuver, as you never know when you might need to use it to save a life. Six-year-old Beanie Mar knew the technique and used it to save a schoolmate. While other kids were panicking, Beanie kept cool and followed her training.
50) Overcoming The Odds
This little boy was diagnosed with autism at an early age and was non-verbal for a long time, with doctors unsure if he’d ever be able to speak. Years later, through the love and support of his parents, he overcame this condition and can now name dozens of his favorite superheroes.
51) Bicep Barbie
Julia Vins is a young Russian woman who first found fame as a teenager for her Barbie-like looks and immense muscles! She’s a super strong powerlifter with enormous arms, but even though she spends hours and hours in the gym, she still finds time to do her makeup and look fabulous each day.
52) Well Done!
This 8-year-old boy didn’t want to see any of his friends at school go hungry if they couldn’t afford a hot lunch, so he organized fundraising online to cover the costs. What an inspiration! This kid is showing more humility, maturity, and strength of character than millions of grown-ups.
53) Fulfilling A Promise
Little Gracie endured a terrible loss when her father passed away, but he’d always cared about the homeless and tried to help them however he could. She made a vow to follow in his footsteps, so organized a big meal to feed 50 homeless people on the first Christmas after her father’s passing.
54) An Unbreakable Bond
This young girl saw an abandoned baby sloth in danger. He was starving and stuck in a sticky situation, surrounded by thorns and all alone, so she climbed up to save him. After that, they became best buddies.
55) Cool Under Pressure
You might not guess just from looking at him, but the boy on the left of this photograph is a life-saving hero! His mom lost consciousness one day, but he reacted with calmness and maturity, picking up her phone and calling the police to get help.
56) An Act Of Kindness
Plenty of kids get money for their birthday and use it to buy toys or games. This little girl did something very different! She used the cash she got for her 11th birthday to prepare some lunches for local cops in order to thank them for their bravery and service.
57) Such A Sweet Girl
She might not have the big biceps or mesmerizing muscles of some of the other kids on this list, but the teenage girl responsible for this sandwich is still a hero in her own way. Each day, she makes her dad a packed lunch, showing amazing maturity and generosity for her age.
58) A Big Heart
Wyatt Erber was just eight years old when he won $1,000! He could have saved the money for the future or spent it on the latest video game consoles. Instead, he gave it all away to a neighborhood girl with leukemia.
59) A Real Baller
Nathan Boyer was just 13 years old when he saved a life! His basketball coach suffered a heart attack in the middle of a training session, but Nathan didn’t panic! He immediately called for an ambulance and started to perform CPR to keep his coach alive until help arrived.
60) A Brave Toddler
This little girl was just three years old when she showed amazing strength and courage in a dangerous situation! Her pregnant mom fell down the stairs, so she rushed to the phone to request an ambulance, saving her mother and her unborn sibling.
We can all learn a lot from these strong and inspirational youngsters. Some of them set an extraordinary example of physical fitness with their mighty muscles, while others have huge hearts rather than big biceps, but are just as strong as the rest in different ways. They’re all incredible, and they’re all proving that kids should never be underestimated!