Sultan Kosen – The tallest man in the world According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the tallest person right now is Sultan Kosen, a Turkish part-time farmer. He is 8 feet 2.82 inches (251 centimeters). As well as being the world’s tallest man, he is also one of the world’s heaviest people, nearly 500 pounds (226.8 kilograms). Plus, he owns the largest hands on a living person, measuring 11.22 inches (28.5 centimeters) from the wrist to the top of the middle finger. A look into Sultan Kosen’s life Sultan Kosen was born on 10 December 1982, in Mardin, a city in southeastern Turkey. Due to his large frame, he experienced a unique childhood. He was unable to finish his education and get a stable job. That is why he worked part-time as a farmer to support his family. He also has interesting sharings about the pros and cons of being tall. Since he is over 8 feet, he is able to see an extended distance and help his family with domestic tasks. But he finds it difficult to look for suitable clothes and shoes or fit into an average-sized car. We all know that one of the biggest factors determining a person’s height is genetics, but Sultan’s family, including his parents, siblings, and other members are all of average height. Surprise! Sultan Kosen (Source: guinnessworldrecords.com) What makes him so tall? “Pituitary gigantism,” a condition of over-production of growth hormone levels, is the main cause making Sultan get rare growth and gigantic height. And the effects of over-production lead to a thickening of the bones, turning him into the colossal man he is today. Despite his large size, his physical strength may not be as strong as many people think. That is why he had to wear crutches to move around easier and balance and support his body. Will he continue growing? Yes, he might still be growing today if he had not had brain surgery. But his growing height is dangerous and may put his physical and emotional health at risk. Luckily, he received a Gamma Knife treatment in 2010 to prevent his body from growing taller. This technique regulates the extra levels of growth hormones in his body. As a result, his height finally stopped growing in 2012. Unique experiences in his life After being recognized by people worldwide, Sultan Kosen has opened up to lead a happier life. Getting married In 2013, Sultan married Merve Dibo, who is ten years younger than him and 5 feet 9 inches (175 centimeters). She traveled from her home in Syria to his village in Turkey to meet him, and then they were married two months later. Their wedding party had over 1,500 guests, including local dignitaries and a representative from Guinness World Records. However, they divorced in 2021, citing the language barrier as one of the most important issues. Meeting new people In 2014, Sultan first met with Chandra Bahadur Dangi, the world’s shortest man ever (1 foot 10 inches – 54.6 centimeters) at an event in London. Also, he participated in the Magic Cirus of Samoa and other shows around the world. In 2016, he joined as a part of the film Achieving the Impossible. Having shocking photos Since Sultan Kosen was recognized as the tallest person in the world, his image has appeared on many forums. And you easily find shocking photos on the Internet. Sultan Kosen cannot stretch out on a two-seat couch as much as most people because of his long legs.(Source: guinnessworldrecords.com) He could shake hands with the people on the top of the double-decker bus. (Source: guinnessworldrecords.com) A red telephone box in the UK stands at about 8 feet (243.84 centimeters). But if he wants to get inside, he needs to crouch down. (Source: guinnessworldrecords.com) A canned drink is about 4.5 inches (11.52 centimeters) tall, which goes to show how big his hands really are. (Source: guinnessworldrecords.com) Sultan Kosen’s current life Since he became a Guinness World Records title holder, he has done so many of the dreams he wanted. He got the free life-saving medical treatment that prevented him from growing any taller, switched the farm for Hollywood, and found love. He also has plans for the future, like earning a Ph.D. in Marine Engineering as well as building schools and hospitals for poor children in Turkey and India. Overall, his story continues to inspire many people all over the world. More about other tallest people in the world right now Brahim Takioullah He is the second tallest living person in the world, coming from Guelmim, Morocco. He is 8 feet 1 inch (246 centimeters) and also holds a record for the largest feet on Earth. Morteza Mehrzad Selakjani and Dharmendra Pratap Singh Both of them have the same height, 8 feet 1 inch (246 centimeters). While Morteza is known as an athlete who plays for Iran’s men’s national sitting volleyball team, Dharmendra is known as the tallest man in India. Zhang Juncai He is the tallest man in China, standing at an enormous height of 7 feet 11 inches (242 centimeters). Asadullah Khan He is another tallest man in India, with a height of 7 feet 11 inches (241 centimeters). Interestingly, his family members are just 5 feet tall, so it does not relate to a family thing. Naseer Soomro He measures 7 feet 10 inches (238 centimeters) and is believed as the tallest living person in Pakistan. He is not only a tall man but also talented and well-versed. He graduated from Mehran University, had a bachelor’s as an Engineer in metallurgy, and was a popular author of poetry books. Bao Xishun At a frame height of 7 feet 9 inches (236 centimeters), Bao Xishun is another tallest man in China. Interestingly, he seemed to be growing normally until he was 16, after which his height saw huge changes. Sun Mingming Like Bao Xishun, Sun Mingming has the same height and was formally a professional basketball player. It is believed he is the tallest player in the world. He is married to Xu Yan, who is 6 feet 1 inch (185.4 centimeters). And their marriage is known as the tallest married couple in the world. Final words Having a good height is nothing less than a blessing. And being tall is one of the factors of a superb physical appearance which also gives a strong impression on others. Call yourself lucky if you are blessed with it. Related post: Does your weight affect your height growth? What is the average height for 12-year-olds?
