World’s Second Tallest Man Forced to Sleep on the Floor as He Competes in Paralympics
Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, an Iranian athlete and the world’s second tallest man at 8 feet 1 inch, faced challenges at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, where he had to sleep on the floor due to the unavailability of a bed long enough for him. His coach, Hadi Rezaeigarkani, mentioned that unlike the previous Tokyo Games, no special accommodations had been made for him in Paris. Despite this discomfort, Mehrzadselakjani remained focused on his goal of becoming a champion.
Initially, Iran’s National Paralympic Committee offered extensions to a standard bed, but they were not suitable. After his situation gained media attention, organizers promised to resolve the issue by providing additional bed options. Ultimately, Iran’s sitting volleyball team won the gold medal, defeating Bosnia, and Mehrzadselakjani continued to demonstrate resilience and determination throughout the Games.
Mehrzadselakjani’s unusual height is caused by acromegaly, which has impacted his health, including complications from an accident in his teens that left one leg shorter than the other. His journey reflects overcoming adversity, and his success has changed public perceptions, inspiring respect and admiration as he has made a name for himself as a champion athlete.
An Iranian man who stands 8 feet 1 inch spent several days sleeping on the floor at this year;’s Paralympic Games in Paris because no bed was available that was long enough for him.
When the Games opened at the end of August, there was no alternative to the floor for Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, the world’s second-tallest man and a part of Iran’s sitting volleyball team, according to the Olympic Games’s official website.
“In Tokyo, yes, they have made a special bed, but unfortunately not here,” coach Hadi Rezaeigarkani said. “He’s going to lie on the floor.”
“He doesn’t have a special bed, but he has got the most important aim in his mind. It doesn’t matter for him whether he will lay on the floor or he’s not going to have enough to eat. In any way, he has the mind to become a champion,” Rezaeigarkani said.
According to a BBC report from earlier this month, the issue was eventually resolved.
The report said that Iran’s National Paralympic Committee offered to provide two extensions to a standard bed for Mehrzadselakjani.
However, those were not long enough. Iran made no further requests, but when the news got out about Mehrzadselakjani’s plight, an answer was found.
“Since learning about the situation in the media, we are making available additional extensions. The situation will be resolved today,” a representative of the Games said.
Iran ended up winning the gold medal in sitting volleyball, defeating Bosnia three sets to one, according to the Paralympic Games. Mehrzadselakjani was a member of the Iranian sitting volleyball teams that won gold in Tokyo and in the 2-16 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Mehrzadselakjani’s unusual height is due to his acromegaly, a condition that leads to unusual growth, according to the Olympics.
Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, is the world’s second tallest man, standing at 8 feet 0.85 inches.
Currently competing in the 2024 Paris Paralympics for Iran’s sitting volleyball team
Notably, he has to sleep on the floor in the athletes’ village because he no access to custom bed pic.twitter.com/wezpxiLwFe
— Ksports (@ksports_) September 5, 2024
When he was a teenager, the athlete was in a bicycle accident that further complicated his health.
Mehrzadselakjani suffered an injured pelvis, and as a result, his right leg failed to grow properly, ending up six inches shorter than his left.
The disparity means Mehrzadselakjani must sometimes use a wheelchair.
“I believe that Morteza has spent 11 years in his room, in his house, without going out,” Rezaeigarkani said.
“When he wanted to leave the home and come outside, unfortunately, he was not satisfied because so many people [stared at] him. But nowadays all people are going to look at him as a champion,” he said, noting that being a winner has changed how people react to him.
“When he was 12 years old, no one had any consideration for him, but when he became a sitting volleyball player, everyone, all around the world know him and respect him. I would like to give you one sentence – I believe that each person has got potential in the world and we have to discover it,” Rezaeigarkani said.
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