The world’s tallest man today hit back at a claim from a lanky challenger and insisted “I’m still number one”.
Sultan Kosen, who stands at 8ft 3in, proudly displayed his certificate amid reports that Sulemana Abdul Samed is 9ft 6in tall.
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29-year-old Beanpole Sulemana caused a global sensation when doctors measured his height at a rural clinic in Ghana.
Medical officials admitted that they were not sure because they did not have the proper measuring equipment.
An unverified record makes him the tallest man in history and 15 inches taller than the Turkish peasant Sultan, 40.
Guinness World Records recognizes Sultan as the tallest living person at 2.51 m or 8 feet 2.8 inches. He also has the biggest hands in the world.
And today he is in defiant mood after being tracked down in his village in eastern Turkey.
Andaloo told the news agency that he will not give up his records without a fight.
Sultan said: “I have the biggest feet in the world. I wear size 61 shoes.
“I also have the biggest hands in the world. My records are recorded. I have a world cultural heritage.
I hear some news saying “Sultan’s record is over, there are people who are taller than Sultan”.
“Then let’s measure our height.
“I have held my record for 14 years. I will not lose my record to anyone. I am determined about that.”
Sulemana, who has to wear shoes made of tires, has the growth disorder Marfan syndrome and has been shooting for years.
He is a celebrity in Ghana, where he is taller than some houses and is known as the “friendly giant”.
His health conditions forced him to give up his dream of becoming a driver and move back to his village from the capital Accra.
At a recent checkup, Dax registered a height that meant he surpassed US giant Robert Waddlow, who stood at 8 feet 11.1 inches when he died in 1940, as the tallest man.
Although he was diagnosed with gigantic disease several years ago, medical staff in the rural district struggled to find equipment large enough to measure Sulemana’s incredible height.
As news of his unofficial record went viral, a BBC reporter went to meet him with a 16-foot measuring tape.
He saw a neighbor standing on a chair and tracing the height of Sulemana on the high wall of the village.
He then measured from that mark to the ground – and it came to a more reliable 7ft 4in.
Sulemana said: “The way they measure me, I can’t say everything is perfect.
“I am still growing tall.. who knows, one day I may reach that height too.
“I grow every three months for four months.
“If you haven’t seen me in three months and you see me, you realize I’ve grown.”
High value
Meanwhile Ethiopia’s tallest man has also slammed the claims on behalf of the Ghanaian youngster.
Nagao Jima – officially 7ft 4.6in – posted a photo on Facebook with one of Suleimana – adding the caption “Never give up”.
In an earlier post he said: “Bring him on if you want – this guy doesn’t stand taller than me.”
And he later told the BBC: “From what I see on the pictures, I can tell he’s not taller than me.”
Guinness World Records says it knows of only ten confirmed or credible cases in history of people reaching 8 feet tall.
Brahim Takiolla of Morocco and Morteza Mehrzad of Iran became the second living people to stand at 8 feet 1 inch.
About 50 people measured 7ft 5in or taller.
Sultan claimed the title of the world’s tallest man in 2009 at the age of 26 at 8ft 1in. Since then he has grown another two inches.
His fame has taken him to more than 150 countries.
In 2021 he moved to Russia to look for a bride after his separation from his 5ft 9in wife.
But he still remains alone and returns to Turkey, where he lives in a house specially built for him.
In fact he doesn’t have the biggest feet in the world according to Guinness.
They belong to Jayson Rodriguez from Venezuela, who wears specially made shoes equivalent to a European size 69.
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