Washington Post Report on the Second Tallest Man in the World; Morteza Mehrzad is a Star of the Paris Paralympics

The American publication 'Washington Post' on Tuesday, September 4, published a detailed report introducing Morteza Mehrzad, a player on Iran's national sitting volleyball team. According to the report, Morteza Mehrzad, who stands at 2.46 meters, is the second tallest man in the world and is considered one of the stars of the 2024 Paris Paralympics due to his outstanding performance with the Iranian team. The Iranian national sitting volleyball team advanced to the semifinals of the Paralympic Games after victories against Ukraine, Brazil, and Germany, and is seen as a contender for the gold medal. The Washington Post noted Morteza Mehrzad's role in Iran's victories, mentioning that he sleeps on the floor in Paris due to a lack of proper bedding. The report states that Morteza Mehrzad is experiencing his third Paralympics and is a reserved athlete who rarely speaks with the media. Morteza Mehrzad suffers from a rare hormonal disorder called 'acromegaly,' which causes excessive growth hormone secretion. He was injured in a bicycle accident during his teenage years, which led to a reduction in the growth of his right leg, making it shorter than his left. After appearing on a television program about individuals with disabilities who have special talents, he was invited by coaches to try sitting volleyball. He joined the Iranian national team over a decade ago and has become a key figure in Iran's championship victories in recent Paralympic and global competitions. According to Iran's competitors, playing against Morteza Mehrzad is very challenging due to his significant attacking and defensive abilities. The Iranian sports delegation consists of 65 athletes competing in 10 sports, including sitting volleyball, goalball, para-athletics, para-shooting, para-weightlifting, para-swimming, para-archery, para-taekwondo, para-judo, and para-canoeing in this Paralympic Games.