Sultan Kösen

Sultan Kösen (Turkish: [suɫtɑn køsen]; born 10 December 1982) is a Turkish farmer who holds the Guinness World Record for tallest living male at 251 centimetres (8 ft 3 in).
His growth resulted from a tumour affecting his pituitary gland. His stature is such that he must use crutches in order to walk.

Kösen lives with his parents, three brothers and sister, who are all of typical height. He was unable to complete his education because of his height, so instead worked part-time as a farmer. He describes the advantages of being tall as seeing a great distance and being able to help his family with domestic tasks such as changing light bulbs and hanging curtains. He says that his disadvantages are not being able to find clothes, with his legs measuring 49.5 inches (126 cm), his arms measuring 38 inches (97 cm), and not being able to find shoes for his size 28 feet, as well as finding it difficult to fit into an average-sized car.

Starting in 2010, Kösen received Gamma Knife treatment for his pituitary tumour at the University of Virginia Medical School and has also been provided with medication to control his excessive levels of growth hormone. Although the full effect of the treatment takes up to two years, as of 2011, his hormone levels were almost normal. It was confirmed in March 2012 that the treatment had been effective in halting Kösen's growth.

In October 2013, Kösen married Syrian-born Merve Dibo, who is ten years Kösen's junior. In his interview he said that his biggest problem with his wife is the communication problem, despite the fact that he is much taller than his wife. He said he speaks Kurdish and Turkish but his wife speaks only Arabic.

On 13 November 2014, as part of Guinness World Records Day, Kösen met, for the first time, the world's shortest living man, Chandra Bahadur Dangi, at an event in London.

Sultan recently joined the Magic Circus of Samoa and participates in various shows around the world. He had been personally approached by the director of the circus, Bruno Loyale, who convinced him to join the circus.

On 25 August 2009 Kösen's standing height was recorded at 246.4 cm (8 ft 1 in) in his home country by Guinness World Records, overtaking former world record holder Bao Xishun who stands 236 cm (7 ft 9 in) tall. Kösen also holds the current Guinness record for the largest hands at 27.5 cm, and the second largest feet at 36.5 cm (left foot) and 35.5 cm (right foot).

On 25 August 2010, according to the University of Virginia, a height of up to 254.3 cm (8 ft 4 in) had been confirmed by doctors and stated it was possible this was Kösen's actual height, artificially lowered by scoliosis and bad posture.

On 9 February 2011 Kösen was measured by Guinness World Records at 251 cm (8 ft 3 in) and they also remeasured his hands at 28.5 cm (11.2 in.) which broke his previous record.