Iranian’s sitting volleyball player Morteza Mehrzad is turning heads in Rio because of his HEIGHT which makes him stand above the rest regardless if he’s playing or not.
10 Things You Need To Know About Morteza:
Iran winning point #superspike #video @Paralympics @Rio2016_en @Volleyw00d #sittingvolleyball pic.twitter.com/3GDpOaCXsg
— World ParaVolley (@ParaVolley) September 13, 2016
1. He is the world’s tallest volleyball player at 8 feet and 1 inch (2.46 meters).
2. Morteza is the tallest man in Iran.
3. He has acromegaly which is a condition that results from excess growth hormone (GH) after the growth plates have closed.
He's 8-feet tall and he plays volleyball sitting down. Meet the Paralympics newest star. https://t.co/5OcC9d1bjp pic.twitter.com/5PzRmOtZqq
— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 13, 2016
Iran's sitting volleyball team during tonight's national anthem, featuring number 2, Morteza Mehrzad. He's 8ft 1in. pic.twitter.com/ZZbnsZYJJB
— Ollie Williams (@OllieW) September 13, 2016
4. Five years ago, the sitting volleyball coach of Iran discovered Morteza when he was featured on a TV program featuring people with physical abnormalities and unusual talents.
5. He got into a bike accident at 16 years old and injured his pelvis which has resulted to his right leg to stop growing and be about 6 inches shorter than his left leg.
Now the top 2 men's teams in the world #IRI vs #Bosnia @Paralympics @Rio2016_en #sittingvolleyball @Iranvolleyball pic.twitter.com/KZKhPvuEk2
— World ParaVolley (@ParaVolley) September 12, 2016
#IRI clear winners 3-0. Final set score 25-17 #sittingvolleyball @Paralympics @Rio2016_en @Iranvolleyball pic.twitter.com/60YypQGTRx
— World ParaVolley (@ParaVolley) September 13, 2016
6. The 28 year old would almost never leave his home because he was ashamed of his abnormal height and acromegaly.
7. He eventually decided to join the team and in March of this year he made his first appearance at a major competition in China.
8. He wears the “#2”.
Height dominance! #Iran race ahead to win 1st set 25-17 #sittingvolleyball @Paralympics @Rio2016_en @Iranvolleyball pic.twitter.com/yNcHR7JCUc
— World ParaVolley (@ParaVolley) September 13, 2016
9. Morteza’s right arm can strike the ball 6 feet 4 inches off the ground.
10. He is now a famous according to his coach.“I will tell you a key word that he used himself. Before he became famous, when he came out of the house, everybody looked at him very strangely. And then now that he’s famous, when he comes out, everyone wants to take a picture. He became a champion.”
#Iran look unstoppable. Easily win 2nd set 25-13 #tallestathlete @Paralympics @Iranvolleyball @Rio2016_en pic.twitter.com/fwpShAgO74
— World ParaVolley (@ParaVolley) September 10, 2016
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