CHINA: Twenty-seven-year-old Zhao Liang measures 10 cm taller than the current Guinness Record holder for world's tallest person

Record ID: 614209

  • Title: CHINA: Twenty-seven-year-old Zhao Liang measures 10 cm taller than the current Guinness Record holder for world's tallest person
  • Date: 22nd April 2009
  • Summary: INNER MONGOLIA AUTONOMOUS REGION, CHINA (FILE) (REUTERS) (*** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) VARIOUS OF WORLD'S TALLEST GUINNESS RECORD HOLDER BAO XISHUN WALKING IN WITH CROWD
  • Embargoed: 7th May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA5WSX9VZXDP9E2XHVBA2319BG9
  • Story Text: Twenty-seven-year old Chinese man Zhao Liang looks set to be named the world's tallest person. All he needs is to be officially measured.
    When Zhao's doctors measured him when he was being treated for a foot injury, his enormous frame stood a full 10 cm taller than the current Guinness Record holder for the world's tallest person.
    Though currently unable to stand as his foot is in plaster, he measures
    46 meters (8.1 ft) in height.
    Zhao used to be a basketball player in his home province of Henan in central China. His sporting career was cut short by ligament damage to his left foot eight years ago.
    Coming from a poor farming family, Zhao didn't get the damage fixed properly until he was offered free admission into a private hospital in the northern city of Tianjin.
    His mother Wang Keyun has been taking care of him since he underwent surgery last week.
    With basketball no longer an option, Zhao was unemployed until 2006, when he was hired by a street art troupe in northeast China and learnt to perform magic tricks and play some musical instruments.
    Wherever Zhao went he would cause traffic jams and obstruct pavements as stunned crowds gathered to gasp at his astounding proportions. Eventually his boss just told him not to go out.
    Everything has to be specially made for him, which has not always been easy, Zhao sighed.

    "It is very difficult to find a car that fits me. When other people need one bed at a hotel, I always need to put two beds together. My shoes are specially made, because I cannot find shoes that are of my size. It is not that hard to get tailored clothes, but it is very difficult to get shoes," said Zhao.
    Zhao's grandfather was an impressive two metres (6.5 ft) in height, but his parents and two siblings were average height.
    Weighing 155 kg (341.7 lbs.), Zhao eats three times more than an average person. He said he has gotten used to his height, and doesn't suffer from any health complications on account of it.

    "I have been taller than other kids ever since I was born.
    Especially when I reached the age of 16, I grew very fast, I had been growing 10 cm (3.94 inches) every year until I turned 23 years old," said Zhao.
    His mother, however, has other concerns.

    "I am a bit concerned. He is taller than all the other people, so I am worried that he may not be able to find a wife," said mother Wang Keyun.
    When they are alone in the ward, Zhao likes to play the traditional Chinese flute for his mother to pass the time.
    The official Guinness title-holder for world's tallest person, 57-year-old Chinese citizen Bao Xishun, stands at 2.36 meters (7.74 ft.) tall.
    Zhao will seek official recognition of his giant height after he fully recovers from the surgery. Until he is measured by judges of the Guinness Committee, he cannot be officially named the world's tallest man.
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