London received a striking visitor today as the worlds newly-crowned tallest man, Turkish Sultan Kösen (26) who measures a staggering 8 ft 1 in (246.5 cm), toured the city in celebration of the launch of Guinness World Records 2010 edition (published 17th of September).
Earlier
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this year, Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief, Craig Glenday, travelled to Turkey to personally validate the claim of Kösen under strict Guinness World Records guidelines, which stipulate that the claimant must be measured three times in one day. The average of the measurements is the definitive height as it is medically proven that the body expands and shrinks throughout the day. To Glendays surprise, he discovered that Kösen also has the worlds largest hands and largest feet measuring 27.5 cm and 36.5 cm, respectively, making him a triple record holder. Kösen is also the first person in more than a decade to officially measure over 8 ft in height. He takes the record title from Chinas Bao Xi Shun (7 ft 8.95 in), after Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyks (8 ft 5.5 in) claim to the title was discredited in 2008 when he refused to be independently measured.
Glenday said: We only know of 10 confirmed or reliable cases in history of humans reaching 8 ft or more. Sultans an imposing figure, but a gentle, quiet man whos totally relaxed and unfazed about his unique standing in the world. Its a pleasure to welcome him into the Guinness World Records family and celebrate his mark as one of the most important record holders of this decade.
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