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Sultan Kösen, 40, who stands at 8ft 3in, proudly flaunted his World’s Tallest Man certificate following reports that Sulemana Abdul Samed is 9ft 6in.
Beanpole Sulemana, 29, drew worldwide attention after doctors estimated his height at a rural clinic in Ghana, where staff lacked the proper equipment to measure it.
He attended a monthly appointment to treat health complications.
The unverified record would make him the tallest man in history, 15 inches taller than the 40-year-old Kösen.
Sultan Kösen, 40, who stands at 8ft 3in, proudly flaunted his certificate during an interview with Anadolu Agency in the Dede village of Mardin, Turkey on January 3, 2023.
There have been reports that 29-year-old Sulemana Abdul Samed (pictured left) could measure 9 feet 6 inches. Sultan Kösen (pictured right), 40, is the world record holder at 8ft 3in
Guinness World Records recognizes Mr. Kösen, a Turkish farmer, for being the tallest living person and for having the world’s largest hands.
Having been stationed in the Dede village of Mardin, Turkey, he told the Andalou news agency today: ‘I have the biggest feet in the world. I wear size 61 shoes.
I also have the biggest hands in the world. My records are registered. I am world cultural heritage.
‘I heard some news saying: “Sultan’s record is over, there are people taller than Sultan.”
Mr. Kösen added: ‘If there is, let’s measure our height.
‘I have held my record for 14 years. I will not lose my record to anyone. I am determined about it.
Mr. Samed has Marfan syndrome, a growth disorder of the body’s connective tissues, children often inherit the disorder from a parent.
He needs to wear shoes made from tires that were nailed to him by a local handyman.
Sultan Kösen, 40, poses in the Dede village of Mardin, Turkey, on January 3, 2023.
In Ghana, where Samed is famous, many call him the “friendly giant.” He is also known as Awuche, which means ‘Let’s go’ in Hausa.
He was forced to give up his dream of being a driver, due to his health, and returned to his village from the capital, Accra.
The tallest man of all time was Robert Wadlow of the US, who stood at 8 feet 11.1 inches when he died in 1940.
Although Mr. Samed was diagnosed with gigantism years ago, medical staff in the rural district struggled to find equipment large enough to measure his height.
When reports of his unofficial record spread online, a BBC reporter approached him with a 16-foot tape measure.
He asked a neighbor to stand on a chair and mark Mr. Samed’s height with a piece of charcoal against a wall. The tape measure registered 7 feet 4 inches.
Samed said: “From the way they measure me, I can’t say that everything is perfect.”
‘I’m still growing tall. Who knows, maybe one day I will reach that height too.
‘Every three months of four months I grow.
‘If you haven’t seen me in three months and you do see me, you will have noticed that I have increased.’
Kösen became the world’s tallest living man in 2009 at 8ft 1in at the age of 26. He has grown another two inches since then.
Ethiopia’s tallest man, Nagawo Jimaa, who is 7 feet 4.6 inches tall, posted a photo on Facebook alongside one of Samed with the caption: “Never give up.”
A previous post read: “Bring him if you want, this guy won’t be taller than me.”
Guinness World Records said it is aware of only 10 confirmed or reliable cases in history of people reaching the 8-foot mark.
Morteza Mehrzad, 35, of Iran and Brahim Takioullah, 40, of Morocco, both hold the record for the second-tallest man alive at 8-foot-1.
About 50 people alive have reached 7 feet 5 inches or taller.
Kösen became the world’s tallest living man in 2009 at 8ft 1in at the age of 26. He has grown another two inches since then.