World’s tallest men

The world’s tallest man, Sultan Kosen from Turkey, poses for photographers next to school children at an event in London September 16, 2009. Kosen, who is 2 meters 46.5 cm (8 feet 1 inch) tall and also claims the record for the largest hands and largest feet, attended the event to promote the Guinness World Records 2010 book.

Sultan Kosen poses for photographers at an event in London September 16, 2009. Making his first ever trip outside his native Turkey to tour London this week, Sultan Kosen is guaranteed a unique view of the English capital — at more than eight feet tall he will tower above the crowds.

 

Sultan Kosen poses for photographers at an event in London September 16, 2009. Making his first ever trip outside his native Turkey to tour London this week, Sultan Kosen is guaranteed a unique view of the English capital — at more than eight feet tall he will tower above the crowds.

 

 Schoolboy Josh Henderson, 10, holds his hand against that of Sultan Kosen as they pose for photographers at an event in London September 16, 2009. Kosen lists being able to see a long way into the distance as one of the main advantages of his height, as well as helping his mum with domestic jobs such as changing light bulbs and hanging curtains.

 

 Bao Xishun (L), shakes hands with He Pingping, 19, a 0.73-meter (2 feet, 5 inches) tall man, in Baotou, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region July 13, 2007. Sultan Kosen took the title of World’s Tallest Man from China’s Bao Xi Shun who, at 7 feet 8.95 inches, regained the title last year after 8 feet 5.5 inch Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk’s claim was discredited when he refused to be independently measured.

 

Bao Xishun walks with his pregnant wife Xia Shujuan, 29, 1.68-meter (5 feet, 5 inches), outside their apartment in Zunhua, Hebei province September 25, 2008.

 Bao Xishun walks into a yurt as he takes part in an Erdos Wedding Ceremony rehearsal at Genghis Khan’s Mausoleum on the outskirts of Erdos in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region July 10, 2007.

 

 Zhao Liang, who is a contender to be the world’s tallest person, has his arms measured by doctors before foot surgery at a hospital in Tianjin municipality April 13, 2009. At 2.46 meters (8 ft 1 in) tall, Zhao may well be the world’s tallest person. All he needs is to be officially measured. The 27-year-old was recently measured by doctors who were treating him for a foot injury, and was found to be some 10 cm higher than Bao Xishun, the 57-year-old Chinese man who previously held the Guinness World Record for tallest man.

 

 Zhao Liang talks to his doctor after a foot surgery at a hospital in Tianjin municipality May 21, 2009.

 

 Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk (L) shakes hands with his friend in the village of Podolyantsi in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region, about 200 km (124 miles) from the capital Kiev, March 23, 2008. Stadnyk, at 2.53 meters (8-foot, four-inch), was the world’s tallest manuntil his claim was discredited when he refused to be independently measured.

 

 Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk rides a new bicycle specially made for him in the village of Podolyantsi in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region, about 200 km (124 miles) from the capital Kiev, March 23, 2008.

 

 Olena Stadnyk (R) looks on as her son Leonid swings on a fence near their house in Podolyantsi village in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region, about 200 km (124 miles) from the capital Kiev, April 21, 2004.