In the world of sports, size can make a huge difference. But for Iran’s Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, also known as Mehrzad, his incredible height has helped him become a dominant force in the Paralympic Games. At 8-foot-1 (about 2.46 meters), Mehrzad is the second tallest man in the world, and his presence on the sitting volleyball court is nothing short of extraordinary.
For comparison, Mehrzad is taller than every player in NBA history. No basketball player has ever reached his height, yet he isn’t playing basketball—he’s a sitting volleyball star. He uses his massive size to help lead the Iranian team to repeated success, earning them a string of gold medals. Iran’s sitting volleyball team, with Mehrzad playing a key role, has won gold at the last three Paralympic Games, including their latest victory at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. When Mehrzad and his teammates arrived in Paris for the 2024 Paralympics, they encountered a surprising problem: there were no beds long enough to accommodate his height. At 8-foot-1, finding a bed is no easy task. As a result, Mehrzad had to sleep on the floor when the Games first began. Once word spread about his situation, the organizers in Paris acted quickly to fix the issue. They made sure to provide Mehrzad with a bed that fit his enormous size, ensuring he could rest comfortably before competing.
Morteza Mehrzad’s height is a result of acromegaly, a rare condition that leads to excessive growth due to overproduction of growth hormones. This condition gave him the towering height he is known for today, but it also brought significant challenges. As a teenager, Mehrzad experienced a life-changing accident when he fractured his pelvis in a bicycle accident. The injury caused his right leg to stop growing, making it much shorter than his left leg. This imbalance left him with difficulties walking and limited his ability to play traditional sports. But Mehrzad didn’t give up. He found his place in sitting volleyball, a sport in which players sit on the court and rely mostly on their upper body to move and hit the ball. Here, Mehrzad’s incredible height gave him an unmatched advantage. When he raises his arms in the air, he can reach over six feet, making it nearly impossible for opponents to spike the ball past him. His blocking and attacking skills have become essential to Iran’s dominance in the sport.
Mehrzad’s height isn’t the only reason for his success; his determination, skill, and team spirit have made him an integral part of Iran’s sitting volleyball team. The Iranian team has won gold medals at the last three Paralympics, including their victory at the 2016 Rio Games, the 2020 Tokyo Games, and now at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Each time, Mehrzad has played a huge role, both figuratively and literally. His presence at the net makes it difficult for any opposing team to score, and his ability to attack with power has helped his team dominate every match they play. With eight Paralympic gold medals to his name, Mehrzad has cemented his place as one of the greatest sitting volleyball players in history. Despite the challenges he has faced due to his height and medical condition, Mehrzad has turned what many would consider a disadvantage into a powerful asset. His journey is one of perseverance, strength, and determination. Today, he is a legend not just in Iran but worldwide, inspiring athletes everywhere to overcome their own challenges.
As the 2024 Paris Paralympics come to an end, Morteza Mehrzadselakjani’s story serves as a reminder that no obstacle is too big when faced with courage and determination. His towering height, combined with his skills and resilience, has led him to the top of the world in sitting volleyball. And with his incredible achievements, he continues to leave a lasting impact on the sport and the Paralympic Games. At 8-foot-1, Mehrzad may be too tall for most things in life, but when it comes to sitting volleyball, he’s just the right size to dominate.
