The tallest living man is Sultan Kosen from Mardin, Turkey. He is
the world's tallest man according to the latest Guinness world record book, who
measured 8 ft 3 inches (251.4 cm) in Ankara, Turkey, on 08th February
2011.
Sultan first became the world's tallest living man in
2009, when he measured 246.5 cm (8 ft 1 in) in height. The part time
farmer was the first man over 8 ft (2.43 m) to be measured by Guinness World
Records in over 20 years.
Sultan also holds the record for largest hands of a living
person, each one measuring 28.5 cm (11.22 in) from the wrist to the tip of
the middle finger. He previously held the record for largest feet on a living
person, with his left foot measuring 36.5 cm (1 ft 2 in) and right foot measuring
35.5 cm (1 ft 1.98 in).
Speaking at the time of his entry into the Guinness World
Records family he said: 'I never imagined I would be in the GWR book, I dreamed
about it, but it was still a huge surprise'.
Sultan's growth and massive height caused by a condition
known as "pituitary gigantism", which is the result of an
over-production of growth hormone. The effects of over-production includes
large hands, a thickening of the bones, and painful joints.Sultan didn't start
his incredible growth spurt until he was 10 years old. But he finally appears
to have stopped growing. Revolutionary gamma-knife surgery on the tumour
affecting his pituitary gland, provided by the University of Virginia, USA, in
August 2010, has finally halted his production of growth hormone.
Sultan is one of five members in a family, with three
brothers and one sister, The rest of his family, are all 'normal' sized.
Because of his extreme height he was never able to finish school but works
occasionally as a farmer to support his family.
