France fails to find a bed for world’s second-tallest man at Paralympics

Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, the world’s second-tallest man, has been forced to sleep on the floor as he competes in the Paris Paralympic Games.

The 8ft 1in athlete, nicknamed the Fatal Weapon in his home country, Iran, had a special bed constructed for him during the Tokyo Games, where he took gold in sitting volleyball.

But this year, Mehrzadselakjani, who developed a growth condition at a young age, has been given no such special treatment, his coach said.

“In Tokyo [2020], yes, they have made a special bed, but unfortunately not here [at Paris 2024,” Hadi Rezaeigarkani told Olympics.com. “He’s going to lie on the floor. He doesn’t have a special bed, but he has got the most important aim in his mind. It doesn’t matter for him whether he will lay on the floor or he’s not going to have enough to eat.”

“In any way, he has the mind to become the champion.” Mehrzadselakjani – better known as Mehrzad – is the tallest Paralympian in history.

The 36-year-old is a key part of Iran’s men’s sitting volleyball team. The sport is played in a seated position with only minor modifications to the rules for able-bodied volleyball.

Mehrzadselakjani was diagnosed with acromegaly at a young age, a condition that causes the body to produce excess growth hormone.

At 16, he was already more than 6ft 2in. The year prior, at age 15, a bicycle accident caused a pelvic fracture that stopped his right leg from growing.

Today, his right leg is six inches shorter than his left, and Mehrzadselakjani uses crutches or a wheelchair to move around.

Iranian state media has proudly highlighted Mehrzadselakjani’s athletic abilities, calling him the “Fatal Weapon” of the sitting volleyball team.

Paris represents Mehrzadselakjani’s third appearance at the Paralympics. Each time, he has helped the Iranian team take home gold, and this year his goals are no different.

“We are ready to win a gold medal in Paris,” he told Iranian state media in August.

Organisers of the Paris Olympics said: “The beds in the Paralympic Village are modular in design. We received a request from the Iranian NPC and responded by providing two extensions to the standard bed. No further request was made to Paris 2024 by the Iranian NPC, but it seems the two extensions were not sufficient.

“Since learning about the situation in the media, we are making available additional extensions. The situation will be resolved today.”