World's tallest man Sultan Kösen making average-sized things look small

The tallest man living today is the towering Sultan Kösen from Turkey. 

38-year-old Sultan, when last officially measured in 2018, was 251 cm (8 ft 2.8 in). 

To put that into perspective, Sultan is 8.8 inches taller than Yao Ming (China) and over a foot taller than Shaquille O'Neal (USA)!

Sultan is one of the most iconic members of the Guinness World Records family and has gained international recognition for his lofty stature. 

Read more about Sultan's life and record-breaking journey in his Hall of Fame profile.

As well as being the world's tallest man, he has the largest hands on a living person, with hands measuring 28.5 cm (11.22 in) from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger.

When you're over 8 feet, average-sized things can often feel very small and easy tasks are made much harder because of it.

Obstacles that Sultan faces include finding clothes or shoes that fit and fitting into regular-sized cars. 

To show just how small the world can feel for Sultan sometimes, here are eight times that Sultan made average-sized things look small.

1. Drinking a can of soda

An average 330cl canned drink is 11.52 cm (4.5 in) tall - which goes to show you how large Sultans' hands really are!

Well, they are the largest hands in the world...

2. Standing at a bus stop

Covered bus stops, like the one in the background of this image, usually stand at around 8 ft (243.84 cm).

Sultan could shake hands with the people on the top deck of the bus if he wanted to.

3. Sitting on a two-seater couch

Stretching out on the couch is something we usually all look forward to at the end of a long day - but Sultan isn't able to stretch out as much as most people!

Seats in general can pose a bit of a problem for Sultan, with most average sized chairs, couches and benches being far too low to the ground for his long legs. 

4. Leaning on a telephone box

These red telephone boxes can be found in the UK.

They usually stand at around 8 ft (243.84 cm)  - a comfortable leaning post for Sultan. 

He'd have to crouch down if he needed to get inside and make a call, though.

5. Playing basketball 

For most, a shot in basketball would involve a running jump - or at least a well positioned throw - but Sultan barely has to stretch to comfortably place the ball in the net.

A size 7 basketball (the size used in the NBA) has a circumference of 75 cm (29.5 in) and can sit very comfortably in Sultan's palm.

When he was a teenager, Sultan was signed to the Galatasaray basketball team, but unfortunately he was too tall to play.

He remains a fan of basketball to this day and joined in a game for a few shots when he was in New York a few years ago (pictured above).

6. Standing next to a yellow cab 

Everyone knows the size of these iconic yellow cabs that swarm New York City, USA - whether you've seen them in person or on TV.  

As you can see, this average-sized car would be a squeeze for Sultan to get into.

7. Holding a Guinness World Records book 

This one speaks for itself!

The Guinness World Records book is 30.3 cm (11.9 in) tall - although we're sure you knew that already... 

8. Standing next to an adjudicator 

Lastly, nothing puts Sultan's height into perspective than him standing next to someone else! 

When Sultan was last officially measured In Ankara, Turkey, on 8 February 2011 (and the times before that) the adjudicator had to stand on a stepladder to get the tape measure to reach above Sultan's head. 

However, being so tall does have its upsides. 

Sultan says it makes him great at hanging curtains and changing lightbulbs!

He has always taken the publicity he attracts in his (rather long) stride and handles the attention with positivity and grace.

"Being different is definitely something that I live with, but I enjoy the attention, I love the photographs that people take. Everyone is different, but at the end of the day we are all the same people." - Sultan Kösen