ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sultan Kösen, the world’s tallest man at 8ft 3in, celebrated a milestone – his 40th birthday – at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Orlando, visiting all the way from Turkey.

At Ripley’s, Sultan stopped to pose alongside the tallest man who ever lived, Robert Wadlow of Alton, Illinois. When last measured in 1940 at the age of 22, shortly before his death, Wadlow was 8 feet 11.1 inches tall.

Believe it or not! there are only ten reliable instances in history of a person reaching 8 feet or more. In 2009, Sultan Kösen became the first man in more than 20 years to be measured over 8 feet tall by Guinness World Records.

“After this day [that I was announced the tallest man in the world] I was born,” Sultan Ripley’s explained. “Before that, I was a very quiet person. I can talk now. I’m happy. I’m funny. I enjoy my life.”

Sultan gained international recognition for his lofty stature and has visited 127 countries. Celebrating another year, he blew out his birthday candles at the Orlando attraction to “travel to the rest of the countries I haven’t visited… and keep my record title.” I hope there won’t be anyone taller than me.” he joked.

Sultan was born on December 10, 1982 and didn’t start his incredible growth spurt until he was 10 years old. His unique stature is caused by a condition known as “pituitary gigantism,” which is the result of overproduction of growth hormone. In Sultan’s case, his pituitary gland was damaged by a tumor, causing an excess of the hormone to be released.

Sultan also holds the record for the largest hands on a living person, each measuring 11.22 inches from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger.

media contact
Sabrina Siek
sieck@ripleys.com
(407) 450-1516

About Ripley Entertainment

Built in 1918 on the basis of a daily newspaper caricature – still in print today – Ripley Entertainment has grown into a global leader in family entertainment and is expanding to more than 100 attractions in…