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© Getty Images
0 / 34 Fotos
Giant of Castelnau
- These three bone fragments (the one in the middle is a regular-sized bone) were discovered in 1890. It's believed to have belonged to a human from the Bronze Age that might have been about 3.50 m (11 ft 6 in) tall, though no modern studies have been conducted.
© Public Domain
1 / 34 Fotos
John Middleton (1578–1623)
- Legend has it that the "Childe of Hale" (as he was known) was so tall that he slept with his feet out of the window.
© Public Domain
2 / 34 Fotos
Trijntje Keever (1616–1633)
- Also known as De Groote Meid ("The Big Girl" in English), this Dutch woman is often cited as the tallest woman ever, at 2.49 m (8 ft 2 in). Though the veracity of this information is still disputed to this day.
© Public Domain
3 / 34 Fotos
Cornelius Magrath (1736–1760)
- In 1753, this Irish giant moved to London, England, where he became a local attraction at around 2.13 m (7 ft) tall.
© Public Domain
4 / 34 Fotos
Colonel Routh Goshen (1824–1889)
- Born Arthur James Caley in the Isle of Man, he was also known as the "Arabian Giant" or the "Palestine Giant." He moved to the US and lived his life as a performer. Though he was credited as being 2.41 m (7 ft 11 in) tall, he was most likely around 2.26 m (7 ft 5 in).
© Public Domain
5 / 34 Fotos
Angus MacAskill (1825–1863)
- This Scottish-born Canadian man was known for his tremendous size and strength. He once performed for Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle, who said he was "the tallest, stoutest and strongest man to ever enter the palace." He was believed to be 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in).
© Public Domain
6 / 34 Fotos
Martin Van Buren Bates (1837–1919)
- Captain Martin Van Buren Bates, also known as the "Kentucky Giant," fought in the American Civil War (Confederate States Army) and his size helped him rise through the ranks. He was 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in).
© Getty Images
7 / 34 Fotos
Zhan Shichai (between 1841 and 1847–1893)
- "Chang Woo Gow" (stage name), toured the world as "Chang the Chinese Giant" in the 19th century. He was rumored to have learned 10 languages and measured over 2.44 m (8 ft) in height.
© Public Domain
8 / 34 Fotos
Anna Haining Bates (1846–1888)
- This Canadian woman measured 2.41 m (7 ft 11 in) and lived a great part of her life as a circus attraction. Bates gave birth to the largest newborn ever recorded, at 10.7 kg (23.9 lbs) and nearly 75 cm (30 in) tall. Sadly, the baby only survived for 11 hours.
© Getty Images
9 / 34 Fotos
Julius Koch (1872–1902)
- Also known as Le Geant Constantin ("Giant Constantin"), he was born in Germany and died in Belgium. Koch was reportedly 2.45 m (8 ft 0.8 in). His skeleton is preserved at the Museum of Natural History in Mons, Belgium.
© Public Domain
10 / 34 Fotos
Feodor Machnow (1876-1913)
- Machnow was born in a territory that now belongs to Belarus. Billed as "The Russian Giant," he toured Europe and the US, where he even met President Roosevelt. According to photographic evidence, he was around 2.40 m (7 ft 10 in) tall.
© Public Domain
11 / 34 Fotos
Édouard Beaupré (1881–1904)
- This Canadian man did a bit of everything, from performing in a circus show to wrestling and being a strongman. Beaupré was reportedly 2.51 m (8 ft 3 in) in height.
© Public Domain
12 / 34 Fotos
John Aasen (1890–1938)
- Aasen was an American silent film actor. He was 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in) tall, making him one of the tallest actors in film history.
© Getty Images
13 / 34 Fotos
Bernard Coyne (1897–1921)
- At 2.54 m (8 ft 4 in) tall, this American man was refused induction into the Army during World War I because he was too tall!
© Public Domain
14 / 34 Fotos
Väinö Myllyrinne (1909–1963)
- Born in Helsinki, Finland, Myllyrinne reached 2.51 m (8 ft 3 in) in height. He traveled Europe as a wrestler, served in the Finnish Army, and retired as a chicken farmer.
© Public Domain
15 / 34 Fotos
Robert Wadlow (1918–1940)
- At 2.72 m (8 ft 11.1 in), the man also known as the "Alton Giant" and the "Giant of Illinois" is the tallest human ever in history, according to the Guinness World Records.
© Getty Images
16 / 34 Fotos
Don Koehler (1925–1981)
- A sufferer of acromegalic gigantism, this American man measured 2.49 m (8 ft 2 in). Koehler's twin sister was 74 cm (29 in) shorter than him, a difference that set a world record.
© Getty Images
17 / 34 Fotos
Eddie Carmel (1936–1972)
- The Tel Aviv-born entertainer was also known as "The Jewish Giant," "The Happy Giant," and "The World's Biggest Cowboy." He's listed by the Guinness Book Records as 2.74 m (9 ft) tall.
© Getty Images
18 / 34 Fotos
Richard Kiel (1939–2014)
- You probably recognize him as "Jaws" in the James Bond movies 'The Spy Who Loved Me' (1977) and 'Moonraker' (1979). Kiel, who measured 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in) in height, and had a successful career in film and TV.
© Getty Images
19 / 34 Fotos
Suleiman Ali Nashnush (1943–1991)
- The Libyan basketball player and actor was 2.45 m (8 ft 0.5 in). He starred in the Italian director Federico Fellini's movie 'Fellini Satyricon' (1969).
© Getty Images
20 / 34 Fotos
André the Giant (1946–1993)
- Born André René Roussimoff in France, André became a successful wrestler. At 2.24 m (7 ft 4 in) he starred in a number of movies, including 'Conan the Destroyer' (1984) opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger.
© Getty Images
21 / 34 Fotos
Carel Struycken (born 1948)
- The Dutch actor is famous for playing Lurch in the 'Addams Family' movies and for his role in the cult series 'Twin Peaks.' Struycken is 2.13 m (7 ft) tall.
© Getty Images
22 / 34 Fotos
Bao Xishun (born 1951)
- Also known as Xi Shun, this herdsman from Mongolia, is currently one of the world's tallest living men, at 2.36 m (7 ft 8.9 in) in height.
© Getty Images
23 / 34 Fotos
Alexander Sizonenko (1959–2012)
- The Soviet former basketball player might have been the tallest ever in the sport at 2.39 m (7 ft 10 in) tall.
© Getty Images
24 / 34 Fotos
Zhang Juncai (born 1966)
- This Chinese man is also one of the world's tallest living humans, standing at 2.42 m (7 ft 11 in) tall.
© Getty Images
25 / 34 Fotos
Leonid Stadnyk (1969–2014)
- The height of this Ukrainian man has been disputed by various sources. It varies from 2.44 m (8 ft 0.1 in) to 2.56 m (8 ft 5 in) tall.
© Getty Images
26 / 34 Fotos
Victor Wembanyama (born 2004)
- At 7'4” (224 cm), this 20-year-old French talent is currently considered one of the tallest basketball players in the NBA and is also the tallest athlete competing at the Paris Olympics. Playing for the San Antonio Spurs, this year he received the Rookie of the Year award due to his impressive performance.
© Getty Images
27 / 34 Fotos
Gheorghe Mureșan (born 1971)
- Mureșan, also known as "Big Ghiță," is a former professional basketball player from Romania. He's still the tallest player ever to have played in the NBA. Mureșan is 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in) tall.
© Getty Images
28 / 34 Fotos
Sun Mingming (born 1983)
- This Chinese man holds the Guinness World Records for the tallest professional basketball player in the world, at 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in) tall. He retired in 2014.
© Getty Images
29 / 34 Fotos
Morteza Mehrzad (born 1987)Brahim Takioullah
- Standing at 2.46 m (8 ft 1 in) tall, this volleyball player is the tallest paralympian in history and the tallest man in Iran.
© Getty Images
30 / 34 Fotos
Brahim Takioullah (born 1982)
- This Moroccan man not only is the second-tallest person in the world, at 2.46 m (8 ft 1 in), he also held the Guinness World Record for largest feet!
© Getty Images
31 / 34 Fotos
Sultan Kosen (born 1982)
- Sultan Kosen from Turkey is currently the tallest living person, at 2.51 m (8 ft 2.82 in) tall.
© Getty Images
32 / 34 Fotos
Igor Vovkovinskiy (1982-2021)
- The world lost one of the few living people with gigantism in 2021 when Igor Vovkovinskiy, crowned the tallest living man in the US by Guinness World Records in 2010, died at the age of 38. Vovkovinskiy was reportedly 7 feet, 8.33 inches (234.52 cm) tall, and he died in a hospital from heart disease with his family by his side, according to a Facebook post by his mother. Sources: (Guinness World Records) See also: Struggles only tall and short people will understand
© Getty Images
33 / 34 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 34 Fotos
Giant of Castelnau
- These three bone fragments (the one in the middle is a regular-sized bone) were discovered in 1890. It's believed to have belonged to a human from the Bronze Age that might have been about 3.50 m (11 ft 6 in) tall, though no modern studies have been conducted.
© Public Domain
1 / 34 Fotos
John Middleton (1578–1623)
- Legend has it that the "Childe of Hale" (as he was known) was so tall that he slept with his feet out of the window.
© Public Domain
2 / 34 Fotos
Trijntje Keever (1616–1633)
- Also known as De Groote Meid ("The Big Girl" in English), this Dutch woman is often cited as the tallest woman ever, at 2.49 m (8 ft 2 in). Though the veracity of this information is still disputed to this day.
© Public Domain
3 / 34 Fotos
Cornelius Magrath (1736–1760)
- In 1753, this Irish giant moved to London, England, where he became a local attraction at around 2.13 m (7 ft) tall.
© Public Domain
4 / 34 Fotos
Colonel Routh Goshen (1824–1889)
- Born Arthur James Caley in the Isle of Man, he was also known as the "Arabian Giant" or the "Palestine Giant." He moved to the US and lived his life as a performer. Though he was credited as being 2.41 m (7 ft 11 in) tall, he was most likely around 2.26 m (7 ft 5 in).
© Public Domain
5 / 34 Fotos
Angus MacAskill (1825–1863)
- This Scottish-born Canadian man was known for his tremendous size and strength. He once performed for Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle, who said he was "the tallest, stoutest and strongest man to ever enter the palace." He was believed to be 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in).
© Public Domain
6 / 34 Fotos
Martin Van Buren Bates (1837–1919)
- Captain Martin Van Buren Bates, also known as the "Kentucky Giant," fought in the American Civil War (Confederate States Army) and his size helped him rise through the ranks. He was 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in).
© Getty Images
7 / 34 Fotos
Zhan Shichai (between 1841 and 1847–1893)
- "Chang Woo Gow" (stage name), toured the world as "Chang the Chinese Giant" in the 19th century. He was rumored to have learned 10 languages and measured over 2.44 m (8 ft) in height.
© Public Domain
8 / 34 Fotos
Anna Haining Bates (1846–1888)
- This Canadian woman measured 2.41 m (7 ft 11 in) and lived a great part of her life as a circus attraction. Bates gave birth to the largest newborn ever recorded, at 10.7 kg (23.9 lbs) and nearly 75 cm (30 in) tall. Sadly, the baby only survived for 11 hours.
© Getty Images
9 / 34 Fotos
Julius Koch (1872–1902)
- Also known as Le Geant Constantin ("Giant Constantin"), he was born in Germany and died in Belgium. Koch was reportedly 2.45 m (8 ft 0.8 in). His skeleton is preserved at the Museum of Natural History in Mons, Belgium.
© Public Domain
10 / 34 Fotos
Feodor Machnow (1876-1913)
- Machnow was born in a territory that now belongs to Belarus. Billed as "The Russian Giant," he toured Europe and the US, where he even met President Roosevelt. According to photographic evidence, he was around 2.40 m (7 ft 10 in) tall.
© Public Domain
11 / 34 Fotos
Édouard Beaupré (1881–1904)
- This Canadian man did a bit of everything, from performing in a circus show to wrestling and being a strongman. Beaupré was reportedly 2.51 m (8 ft 3 in) in height.
© Public Domain
12 / 34 Fotos
John Aasen (1890–1938)
- Aasen was an American silent film actor. He was 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in) tall, making him one of the tallest actors in film history.
© Getty Images
13 / 34 Fotos
Bernard Coyne (1897–1921)
- At 2.54 m (8 ft 4 in) tall, this American man was refused induction into the Army during World War I because he was too tall!
© Public Domain
14 / 34 Fotos
Väinö Myllyrinne (1909–1963)
- Born in Helsinki, Finland, Myllyrinne reached 2.51 m (8 ft 3 in) in height. He traveled Europe as a wrestler, served in the Finnish Army, and retired as a chicken farmer.
© Public Domain
15 / 34 Fotos
Robert Wadlow (1918–1940)
- At 2.72 m (8 ft 11.1 in), the man also known as the "Alton Giant" and the "Giant of Illinois" is the tallest human ever in history, according to the Guinness World Records.
© Getty Images
16 / 34 Fotos
Don Koehler (1925–1981)
- A sufferer of acromegalic gigantism, this American man measured 2.49 m (8 ft 2 in). Koehler's twin sister was 74 cm (29 in) shorter than him, a difference that set a world record.
© Getty Images
17 / 34 Fotos
Eddie Carmel (1936–1972)
- The Tel Aviv-born entertainer was also known as "The Jewish Giant," "The Happy Giant," and "The World's Biggest Cowboy." He's listed by the Guinness Book Records as 2.74 m (9 ft) tall.
© Getty Images
18 / 34 Fotos
Richard Kiel (1939–2014)
- You probably recognize him as "Jaws" in the James Bond movies 'The Spy Who Loved Me' (1977) and 'Moonraker' (1979). Kiel, who measured 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in) in height, and had a successful career in film and TV.
© Getty Images
19 / 34 Fotos
Suleiman Ali Nashnush (1943–1991)
- The Libyan basketball player and actor was 2.45 m (8 ft 0.5 in). He starred in the Italian director Federico Fellini's movie 'Fellini Satyricon' (1969).
© Getty Images
20 / 34 Fotos
André the Giant (1946–1993)
- Born André René Roussimoff in France, André became a successful wrestler. At 2.24 m (7 ft 4 in) he starred in a number of movies, including 'Conan the Destroyer' (1984) opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger.
© Getty Images
21 / 34 Fotos
Carel Struycken (born 1948)
- The Dutch actor is famous for playing Lurch in the 'Addams Family' movies and for his role in the cult series 'Twin Peaks.' Struycken is 2.13 m (7 ft) tall.
© Getty Images
22 / 34 Fotos
Bao Xishun (born 1951)
- Also known as Xi Shun, this herdsman from Mongolia, is currently one of the world's tallest living men, at 2.36 m (7 ft 8.9 in) in height.
© Getty Images
23 / 34 Fotos
Alexander Sizonenko (1959–2012)
- The Soviet former basketball player might have been the tallest ever in the sport at 2.39 m (7 ft 10 in) tall.
© Getty Images
24 / 34 Fotos
Zhang Juncai (born 1966)
- This Chinese man is also one of the world's tallest living humans, standing at 2.42 m (7 ft 11 in) tall.
© Getty Images
25 / 34 Fotos
Leonid Stadnyk (1969–2014)
- The height of this Ukrainian man has been disputed by various sources. It varies from 2.44 m (8 ft 0.1 in) to 2.56 m (8 ft 5 in) tall.
© Getty Images
26 / 34 Fotos
Victor Wembanyama (born 2004)
- At 7'4” (224 cm), this 20-year-old French talent is currently considered one of the tallest basketball players in the NBA and is also the tallest athlete competing at the Paris Olympics. Playing for the San Antonio Spurs, this year he received the Rookie of the Year award due to his impressive performance.
© Getty Images
27 / 34 Fotos
Gheorghe Mureșan (born 1971)
- Mureșan, also known as "Big Ghiță," is a former professional basketball player from Romania. He's still the tallest player ever to have played in the NBA. Mureșan is 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in) tall.
© Getty Images
28 / 34 Fotos
Sun Mingming (born 1983)
- This Chinese man holds the Guinness World Records for the tallest professional basketball player in the world, at 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in) tall. He retired in 2014.
© Getty Images
29 / 34 Fotos
Morteza Mehrzad (born 1987)Brahim Takioullah
- Standing at 2.46 m (8 ft 1 in) tall, this volleyball player is the tallest paralympian in history and the tallest man in Iran.
© Getty Images
30 / 34 Fotos
Brahim Takioullah (born 1982)
- This Moroccan man not only is the second-tallest person in the world, at 2.46 m (8 ft 1 in), he also held the Guinness World Record for largest feet!
© Getty Images
31 / 34 Fotos
Sultan Kosen (born 1982)
- Sultan Kosen from Turkey is currently the tallest living person, at 2.51 m (8 ft 2.82 in) tall.
© Getty Images
32 / 34 Fotos
Igor Vovkovinskiy (1982-2021)
- The world lost one of the few living people with gigantism in 2021 when Igor Vovkovinskiy, crowned the tallest living man in the US by Guinness World Records in 2010, died at the age of 38. Vovkovinskiy was reportedly 7 feet, 8.33 inches (234.52 cm) tall, and he died in a hospital from heart disease with his family by his side, according to a Facebook post by his mother. Sources: (Guinness World Records) See also: Struggles only tall and short people will understand
© Getty Images
33 / 34 Fotos
The stories of the tallest humans in history
Fascinating people famous for their incredible heights
© Getty Images
Can you imagine living in a world tailored for toddlers? That's probably how people suffering from gigantism feel. Gigantism is a real condition, and although extremely rare, some people do suffer from it and try to live a life in a world where virtually everyone is shorter than them. The condition is caused by an excess of growth hormone (GH) which is sometimes associated with tumor growths on the pituitary gland. People with gigantism usually grow to be 2.1 to 2.7 m (7 to 9 ft) tall.
Sometimes this condition is accompanied by acromegaly later in life (or it can happen on its own), which is a disorder that results from an excess of GH after the growth plates have closed (whereas in gigantism, it's during childhood), which can result in enlarged forehead, jaw, and nose.
In this gallery, we look back at the real-life human "giants" in history and their fascinating stories. Click through!
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