World's new tallest man has giant longing for love
The world's new tallest man, measuring two metres 46.5 centimetres
(eight feet one inch), said he was looking for love as he was presented
by Guinness World Records in London on Wednesday.
Sultan Kosen, 26, blotted out the iconic Tower Bridge as he posed for
photographs on the banks of the River Thames in his first ever trip
outside his native Turkey. He takes over the title from China's Bao
Xishun, who stands 'just' 2.36 metres (seven feet 8.95 inches).
The Turk also has the world's largest hands and largest feet,
measuring 27.5 centimetres (10.8 inches) and 36.5 centimetres (14.4
inches) respectively.
And his giant hands dwarfed those proffered by amazed wellwishers as
he turned heads in London, while reporters strained to get their
microphones within reach of his head.
Kosen's record was unveiled to mark the launch of the Guinness World
Records 2010 edition. The book, now in its 55th year, includes the
world's biggest burger, made in the United States and weighing 185
pounds (84 kilograms), and records for the dog with the longest ears and
the world's biggest skateboard. Kosen was unable to complete his
schooling because of his extreme height, but works occasionally as a
farmer to support his family.
He said he hoped his newfound celebrity status would enable him "to
travel and see the world and have a car that accommodates my size."
"My biggest dream though, is to get married and have children I'm
looking for love," he said. The extreme difficulty of squeezing into a
regular-sized car is one of the main disadvantages of his height, but he
says it comes in handy for replacing light bulbs and hanging curtains
for his mother.
Kosen has three brothers and a sister, who are all normal-sized, but
his rate of growth surged from the age of 10 because of a tumour which
caused too much growth hormone to be released from his pituitary gland.
The tumour was successfully removed in surgery and he finally stopped
growing last year. He uses walking sticks and tires quickly if he is
standing.
Another pretender to the tallest title, Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk, who
claims to be 10.5 centimetres taller than Kosen, fails to qualify for
the record because he refused to be measured by Guinness World Records
officials.
Guinness editor-in-chief Craig Glenday travelled to Turkey to
personally validate Kosen's height under strict guidelines, measuring
him three times in one day because bodies expand and shrink throughout
the day.
Glenday said: "Sultan's an imposing figure, but a gentle, quiet man
who's totally relaxed and unfazed about his unique standing in the
world." AFP
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