The New Tallest Man in the World!

Biggest, Tallest, Fastest

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by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Guinness World Records recently announced that a new person would take the title of World’s Tallest Man!

The man is Sultan Kosen of Turkey, who is 8 feet 1 inch tall. Kosen is one of just ten people in history to be reliably confirmed as growing to 8 feet tall or more! To make sure it was true, the Editor in Chief of Guinness World Records traveled to Turkey himself to take the measurements, and measured Kosen numerous times before confirming the results!

Until Kosen’s confirmation, the tallest man in the world was Bao Xishun of China, who is 7 feet 9 inches tall. For a time, Xishun’s title had also belonged to Leonid Stadnyk of Ukraine, who is believed to be 8 feet 5 inches tall. But because Stadnyk didn’t want to be re-measured according to new rules, the official title was given to Xishun and now, most recently, Kosen.

When asked about what it’s like to be so tall, Kosen told reporters that it has both benefits and difficulties. Among the benefits was how easy it is to help change light-bulbs and that he’s able to see people approaching from far away. Among the difficulties was finding clothes (most of Kosen’s clothes have to be specially made) and being unable to fit in a normal-sized car.

The reason that Kosen acquired his enormous height was due to a tumor (abnormal growth of tissue) that caused his pituitary gland to produce too much growth hormone. The tumor was recently removed and so Kosen will no longer continue to grow taller, but because of the condition, Kosen’s hands and feet are also record-breaking sizes: His hands measure 10.8 inches, and his feet 13.7 inches!

As the newly-named Tallest Man in the World, Kosen hopes that he’ll be able to travel, acquire a car that fits his size, and find a woman to marry!