the essential
The 36-year-old athlete is a living legend in his sport. Suffering from acromegaly, he stands at 2m46, an immense size that makes him one of the greatest athletes in history.
A giant will be present in Paris from August 28. The very tall Morteza Mehrzad will participate in his third Paralympic Games, he who has already won almost everything and who measures 2m46. This Iranian owes his fame to his XXL record acquired in sitting volleyball competitions. A demanding discipline where the six players present on the court must move on the ground without getting up.
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Mehrzad and Iran are the kings of this sport. Double gold medalist in Rio (2016) and Tokyo (2021), the 36-year-old athlete dominates all debates thanks to his mastery and his size. Suffering from acromegaly, a chronic disease caused when growth hormone is produced in too great a quantity, the Iranian giant is the tallest athlete in history and the second tallest man in the world.
Sitting, he can hit the ball 1.95m from the ground
Victim of a road accident at the age of 15, the sitting volleyball champion has one leg much larger than the other. His right leg has not been able to grow like the other one, it has a deficit of 15 centimeters.
Double reigning world champion of this atypical discipline, he stands out for his strength and his ability to hit the ball very high. Despite the fact that he is seated, he can hit the ball more than 1m95 from the ground. Which makes it easier for his team to win points that are not well-started since the net is fixed at 1m15.
Morteza Mehrazd is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars in Paris for the Paralympic Games. He shouldn’t be hard to miss given his height, but to see his actions in the best possible light, you’ll have to go to the Arena Paris Nord. Iran’s first match is scheduled for August 30 at 2pm against Ukraine.
