The Tallest People

Did you ever wonder who were the TALLEST people in the world?

Let's find out...

ROBERT PERSHING WADLOW - Tallest Man in Medical History

Robert Pershing Wadlow (February 22, 1918 - July 15, 1940) was a man who, to this day, is the tallest in medical history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. He is often known as the "Alton Giant" because of his Alton, Illinois hometown. Wadlow reached 8 feet 11.1 inches (2.72 metres) in height and weighed 490 pounds (220 kilograms) at his death. His great size and his continued growth in adulthood was due to hypertrophy of his pituitary gland which results in an abnormally high level of human growth hormone. He showed no indication of an end to his growth even at the time of his death.

ZENG JINLIAN - Tallest Woman in Medical History

Zeng Jinlian (June 26, 1964 - February 13, 1982)
was the tallest female ever recorded in medical history. She is also the only female counted among the twelve individuals in the medical history who reached a verified eight feet or more. At the time of her death at the age of 17, in Hunan, China, she was 8ft 1.75 in (248.3 centimetres) tall. However, she could not stand up straight due to a severely deformed spine.

SULTAN KOSEN - Tallest Living Man

Sultan Kosen (born December 10, 1982 in Mardin, Turkey) is the man who currently holds the Guiness World Record for tallest living man. He is one of only twelve individuals in medical history to be confirmed at a height of eight feet or more. Kosen lives with his parents, three brothers and a sister, who are all of normal height. He was unable to complete his schooling because of his height and works part-time as a farmer. Kosen's height was recorded at 2.47 metres (8 ft 1.244 in) in his home country by Guiness World Records, at August 25, 2009, overtaking former world record holder Bao Xishun who stands 2.36 metres (7 ft 8.9 in) tall. He is also the the current Guiness World Record holder of 'largest hands' and 'largest feet', measuring 27.5 cm and 36.5 cm respectively.

YAO DEFEN - Tallest Living Woman

Yao Defen of China (born July 15, 1972) is claimed to be the tallest living woman. Guiness World Records said Sandy Allen of the U.S. was the tallest woman until Allen's death on August 13, 2008, but dispute Defen's clain. She weight 200 kilograms (440 pounds) and has size 26 (U.K.)/ 78 (E.U.) feet. She is 233.7 cm tall (7 ft 8 in). Her gigantism is due to a tumor in her pituitary gland.

However, others have claimed to be even taller. People of extreme height have always been exaggerating their true height. In history, many giants have claimed to be the tallest man alive, or even the tallest man ever.

This trend still continues today...

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