World's tallest man uses height to rise above his problems

Radio Netherlands Worldwide, by Johan van Slooten, 9 November 2009 - 4:22pm

Sultan Kösen in Madurodam (Photo: ANP / Telegraaf)

The Netherlands may officially be home to the tallest people in the world, but the world record holder is a 26-year old man from Turkey. Sultan Kösen measures an incredible 2m46cm (8 ft 0.9 inch). He is currently on a European tour to launch the 2010 edition of the Guinness Book of Records, which lists him as the tallest man alive. But he’s also on a personal mission: finding a sponsor to pay for an operation.

A brain tumour at the age of ten resulted in too many growth hormones in his body, which meant Mr Kösen quickly became unusually tall. “I had many health problems as a child”, he told Radio Netherlands on the Dutch leg of his promotional tour. “I spent years in hospitals. I’m still in pain – my joints hurt and I need extensive physiotherapy. Actually, I’m looking for funds to pay for another operation”.

Not all fun

Finding those funds shouldn’t be too big of a problem for Mr Kösen as his promotional work for the Guinness World Records organisation is quite lucrative. While it may be making him rich, it's clear being so tall isn't all fun. Apart from the practical problems (“Getting into a car is quite problematic”, his brother – who is also his manager – says), there are also physical problems. He has to use crutches when he walks and he can’t manage to walk longer than 100 meters without taking a short break.

Advantage

Up to a certain point, being tall is an advantage, says Professor Stef van Buuren of Utrecht University, who is specialised in human growth. “Tall people actually do quite well. They generally are healthier, have fewer heart diseases, have fewer problems in finding a partner and have higher incomes. But these benefits stop at a certain height. Mr Kösen is clearly over that limit”.

“If you’re as tall as he is, it can be very challenging physically”, Mr Van Buuren adds. “Your body has to carry more weight so your ankles, your knees and your spine are constantly under pressure”.

General well being

With an average height of 1m80cm (5 ft 11 in), the Dutch are among the tallest people in the world. Mr Van Buuren has been studying the reasons for this for a long time, but science hasn’t found the definite answer yet. “We think it has to do with a country’s general well being”, he says. “Health care is in a very good state, people are well fed and we don’t have too many social health problems. These all increase our average height”.

Freak show?

Mr Van Buuren was present at the Guinness World Records book launch in Madurodam, a miniature city in the heart of The Hague. Taking the world's tallest man to a miniature city to accentuate Mr Kösen's height gave the occasion the air of something uncomfortably close to a freak show. While Mr Kösen agrees it's a circus, he looks on the bright side. "This is just fun", he says. "If people ask me to present myself, I'm happy to do it".

Photo: ANP / Telegraaf

But one could wonder whether Mr Kösen was really happy with a Dutch shoemaker presenting him with a new pair of trainers, measuring 36 inch, or with a specialist offering him a spontaneous medical examination. Everything was captured by a dozen photographers and camera men.

If funding another operation is Mr Kösen's real motive, who can blame him?, says Mr Van Buuren. “If he hadn’t had his previous operations, he would have been dead by now, probably”.

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