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World's second-tallest man Morteza Mehrzadselakjani facing a unique problem at Paris Paralympics 2024
Two-time Paralympics gold medalist and the world's second tallest man, Morteza Mehrzadselakjani is facing severe accommodation problems at the 2024 Paris Paralympics Village. This comes due to the 36-year-old's overgrowth due to excessive growth hormone disorder (Acromegaly).
Owing to his excessive height (8 feet 1 inch), Mehrzadselakjani hasn't found an accurate and comfortable bed to accommodate himself and has to spend most of his time on the floor. This situation that the Iranian player is facing in the French capital is very different from the scenes in Tokyo three years ago where a customized bed that could accommodate Morteza Mehrzadselakjani was specially built.
In a recent interview, the Iranian Paralympics Sitting Volleyball team's head coach, Hadi Rezaeigarkani, addressed this issue which is in contrast to the Tokyo Paralympics. He stated that even though the Paris Paralympics organizers haven't made a special-sized bed for Mehrzadselakjani, it has the least impact on the winning mentality that the 36-year-old player has.
He said (via Olympics.com):
"In Tokyo, yes, they have made a special bed, but unfortunately not here. 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.”
Morteza Mehrzadselakjani's Iran Sitting Volleyball team clinch three back-to-back wins at the 2024 Paris Paralympics
On the back of some impressive individual performances by Meisam Ali Pour, Davoud Alipourian, and Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, the Iranian Sitting Volleyball team registered three back-to-back wins at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
The Iranian side defeated Ukraine, Brazil, and Germany convincingly with 3-0 margins and has yet to lose a set in this quadrennial event. The defending champions will next play Egypt in the semifinals, who are coming off wins against France and Kazakhstan.
Competing in the third Paralympics of his career, Mehrzadselakjani has also produced some decent performances at the French capital. During Iran's first match against Ukraine, Mehrzadselakjani scored three attack points with an efficiency percentage of 100.
The 36-year-old also contributed nine and five points in Iran's next two outings against Brazil and Germany as Iran inch closer to another gold in the Sitting Volleyball discipline at the Paralympics.
Mehrzadselakjani is in the hunt for his third consecutive Paralympic gold medal after successful campaigns in Rio and Tokyo.
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