Who is...
Morteza Mehrzadselakjani is Iran’s biggest sporting icon in more ways than one. He is the second tallest man in the world at 8’1” (2.47 metres) and is nicknamed the Fatal Weapon in the sport of Sitting Volleyball. Mehrzad, as his name is commonly shortened, was born with gigantism, but at the age of 15 had a bicycle accident which caused a serious pelvic fracture and stopped his right leg growing, with the result that it’s 15 centimetres shorter than his left. He has helped Iran win gold in the sitting volleyball at the past two Olympics, and has a chance to win a third this evening in the final against Bosnia & Herzegovina.
