Towering Above the Rest
Bao Xishun, 57 years old, measures close to 7 feet 9 inches — officially, Guinness has him at 2.361 meters — making him the world's tallest man.
Notoriety
Originally a shepherd, Bao claims that he stood at a normal height until the age of 16, when he experienced an extraordinary growth spurt. Unlike other previous holders of the title, Bao does not have gigantism, the growth disorder that contributes to extreme height.
No Ladder Necessary
For a while Bao played basketball for the national army team, but was sidelined by rheumatism. He returned to his native Chifeng City, where he quickly gained notoriety from the local media, who applied to the Guinness book on his behalf. He was declared the tallest living man in 2005.
Rival for the Crown
For a year beginning in 2007, the title of world's tallest man was taken away from Bao and given to Leonid Stadnyk, above, a veterinary surgeon from northwest Ukraine. When Stadnyk refused to be measured under new Guinness guidelines, the world record adjudicators returned the title to Bao.
Environmental Hero
In December, 2006, veterinarians at an aquarium in Fushun, China, called upon Bao to help them save two dolphins who had swallowed shards of plastic. With his long arms — they are 41.7 inches, or 1.06 meters long — Bao was able to reach into the dolphins' stomachs and retrieve the shards.
Wedding
In March, 2007 Bao married Xia Shujian, 28, a saleswoman in his native Chifeng.
Man of Honor
The couple celebrated their nuptials in a traditional Mongolian wedding ceremony a few months later.
Big Bash
The well-attended ceremony was held at the Genghis Khan Mausoleum Tourist District in Erdos, China.
Baby Makes Three
The newlyweds' new baby was born in October of this year. "I want him to grow up to be a basketball player," said Bao.
Tall and Short
In July of 2007, Bao was photographed with a 19-year-old man seeking to be declared the world's shortest man. He Pingping is 73 centimeters, or 2 feet 5 inches tall.
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