World’s tallest man needs three beds to sleep due to 8ft 2in height | World | News
Standing at 243 cm (8 ft 2 in), the world’s tallest man needs three beds to sleep comfortably. Sultan Kösen broke the Guinness World Record as the tallest living man in 2009, even surpassing other competitors.
The 43-year-old former farmer took over from 7ft 8.95in Xi Shun and became the first person to surpass 8ft in over two decades. Hailing from Ankara, Türkiye, Sultan was always aware of his extraordinary height, already exceeding 1.5 meters at the age of nine. However, his extraordinary height caused both physical and mental difficulties. According to Mundo Deportivo, he admitted that he was ostracized by his peers in his youth.
Speaking on the I Have a Doubt podcast, Sultan said: “Because I was so tall, my friends were afraid of me and ran away.”
He began having problems with his vision, with his field of vision narrowing until he could only see directly ahead. Feeling “embarrassed and ashamed”, she would retreat to her bedroom and admit that she “didn’t enjoy” her childhood.
As he continued to grow, he became increasingly concerned about the Sultan’s future. He shared: “As I grew taller, my life got worse and more and more bleak. I was constantly thinking about what would happen to me, whether I should die or live… I was very afraid, I was constantly living in fear.”
Doctors discovered a tumor in his pituitary gland, which they suspected was responsible for both his extraordinary height and his vision problems. He underwent surgery, but the tumor reappeared.
The second procedure in 2008 was successful, with the Sultan believing he “would have died” had it not been for the intervention. He recalls that his life changed when he met Guinness World Records officials in Türkiye twelve months later.
He explains that they want to confirm reports that he is the tallest man in the world. That’s when it was confirmed that he was not only the tallest man, but also had the world’s largest hands and feet.
“I measured 2.46 meters and now I measure 2.51 metres,” he adds.
In a conversation with Judith Tiral, she explained that the record helped her feel “accepted.” Although he has overcome the challenges he faced in his youth, Sultan admits that getting around can still be challenging.
He explains that this restricts what vehicles he can buy and even affects the way he travels internationally. He added: “The first time I got on a plane, I traveled for business purposes, so there was room. I have to travel for business or first time. I can’t economize because of my height.
“I have to travel in minibuses or convertibles. I also have to adjust the seat. It is difficult to get into a normal taxi. It has to be a big vehicle.
“When I go to the hotel, normal beds are too small for me, so they put three single beds side by side so I can sleep.”
Sultan, who was once ostracized by his peers, now says the best thing about being tall is the fame it has brought him, and admits that he now has “friends all over the world.” But in 2023 his claim faced a challenge.
Sulemana Abdul Samed from Ghana reportedly measured 9ft 6in during medical examination. But doctors did not have the proper equipment to measure Sulemana accurately, and when a BBC reporter traveled to Africa her height was measured at 7ft 4in.
