2.4-metre-tall Paralympian (finally) gets a bed that fits him
Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, the second tallest man in the world, had been sleeping on the floor of the Paralympic village.
FILE: Paralympian Morteza Mehrzad. Picture: @morteza_mehrzad2/Instagram
Clarence Ford speaks with Barbara Friedman about this and other stories trending online.
Listen below.
Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, a star member of the Iranian sitting volleyball team, is the second-tallest man in the world (2.46 metres).
The 36-year-old competes in his third Paralympics this year, but was not given a bed big enough to fit him.
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Until recently, he has been sleeping on the floor in the Paralympic village.
The Paralympic organisers received heavy criticism after this story made headlines, and has since given him an extended bed.
“He is the star of sitting volleyball.”
- Barbara Friedman
Mehrzadselakjani was born with acromegaly, a rare condition that causes excess growth in parts of the body.
He suffered a serious pelvic fracture at 15 which affected the growth in his right leg, making it 15cm shorter than the left.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.