Iran’s Morteza Mehrzad, world’s tallest athlete, sleeps on floor at Paralympics

The world’s tallest athlete is facing some heartbreaking challenges as he competes for Iran at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

Iran giant Morteza Mehrzad in action. Photos: AFP

The world’s second tallest man is being forced to sleep on the floor in the Paralympics village in Paris.

Morteza Mehrzad is a two-time sitting volleyball gold medallist and is representing Iran at the 2024 Games, as The Sun reports.

He stands at an incredible eight feet 0.85 inches (around 246cm) – just shy of the world’s tallest man Sultan Kosen, who is eight feet 2.82 inches.

Beds in the Paralympic village are not big enough for the decorated athlete, who was provided with a custom berth in Tokyo three years ago.

Mehrzad, 36, was born with a rare medical condition called acromegaly.

It causes excess growth and saw him reach six feet before turning 16.

Mehrzad during a training session. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)

Mehrzad towering over his teammates in a group photo. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)

Mehrzad suffered a serious pelvic fracture when he was 15 that led to his right leg being 15cm shorter than his left.

Iran head coach Hadi Rezaei spotted his potential when he saw him discussing his life on reality TV in 2011.

He has since won two Paralympic gold medals and two world titles.

Rezaei told Olympics.com. “In Tokyo, yes, they have made a special bed, but unfortunately not here.

“He’s going to lie on the floor. He doesn’t have a special bed, but he has got the most important aim in his mind.

“It doesn’t matter for him whether he will lay on the floor or he’s not going to have enough to eat.

“In any way, he has the mind to become a champion.”

Mehrzad (far right) hits the ball during a match at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP)

Beds at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Getty Images

Iran have won seven of the last nine Paralympic sitting volleyball tournaments.

Rezaei was full of praise for his star athlete Mehrzad.

He added: “Morteza can be considered the best player on our team.

“As a matter of fact, if you go back to Morteza when he was 12 years old, no one had any consideration for him, but when he became a sitting volleyball player, everyone, all around the world know him and respect him.

“I would like to give you one sentence – I believe that each person has got potential in the world and we have to discover it.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Iran’s Morteza Mehrzad, world’s tallest athlete, sleeps on floor at Paralympics