Nov, 2014 the tallest man and the shortest man in the world met thursday in london to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the guinness world records book. Add it to your bucket list of things to do in illinois. Robert pershing wadlow robert wadlow, known as the gentle giant of alton, illinois, usa, is widely regarded as the tallest human being of all time. In this article, im gonna tell you about his life being so tall. This gentle man became known as the gentle giant as he grew to become the world s tallest man. The tallest man ever in medical history for whom there is irrefutable evidence is robert wadlow, who when last measured on 27 june 1940 was found to be 2.
Jan 31, 2018 diagnosis for the worlds tallest man this documentary from 1975 takes a look into the life of robert wadlow, the tallest man ever. As a kid growing up i used to love the first chapter of the guinness book of world records, the. The twins then named robert wadlow as the tallest man of whom there is irrefutable evidence. Robert wadlows first record title was the tallest teenager ever male. Oct 15, 2014 a quick walkthrough of the life of robert wadlow the tallest man ever.
He is often known as the alton giant because of his alton, illinois hometown. He was later confirmed as the tallest man ever on 27 june 1940. What the hell is going on i mean, cmon, check out the latest pics of 79 sun ming ming at the rush hour 3 premiere. When last measured on 27 june 1940, the mildmannered american stretched a staggering 2.
Robert wadlow the tragically short life of the worlds tallest man. Robert was the worlds tallest man, but also a kind, thoughtful, spiritual person. This worlds tallest man in medical history was born in february 22, 1918 in alton, illinois, usa and was the first born of addie and harold franklin wadlow who later had four other children whom were all normal. Robert wadlow, the alton giant, became world famous for being, at 8 feet 11. Photos of the worlds tallest man ever, robert wadlow. Aug 30, 2019 robert pershing wadlow worlds tallest man ever at the age of 11 years he was examined at barnes hospital in st. His great size and his continued growth in adulthood were due to hyperplasia of his pituitary gland, which results in an abnormally high level of human gro. May 20, 2015 robert wadlow the story of robert documentary 1975.
The twins then named robert wadlow as the tallest man of whom there is. World tallest man visits the guinness world records office. Im starting to see more and more websites reporting that guinness have recognized stadnyk as the world s tallest man at 85, even though it s blatant he isnt near that height. A photo of robert wadlow, the world s tallest man, standing with his father, harold wadlow. Measuring 8 ft 11 inches, robert pershing wadlow, the tallest. Robert wadlow featured in the sunday star, march 19, 1939. Robert wadlow, worlds tallest man, visits cassville, mo in april of 1940 as part of a shoe company promotion. My mother went to high school with robert wadlow, probably a couple of years behind him, at alton high school. My dad, a welder, told the story of modifying a car so that wadlow could sit in the back seat, and with passenger front seat removed, stretch his legs up to the front. Robert wadlow, worlds tallest man midwest wanderer. The guinness book of world records, in contrast, sat on a small. But in history there were many of tallest men mad record for being tallest man in world.
Guinness world records looks back at the tallest man in the world, female. Leonid stadnyk, a 37yearold former veterinarian from podolyantsi in central ukraine, was measured at 2. Robert wadlow statue, the worlds tallest man, in alton. Robert pershing wadlow of alton illinois worlds tallest. His name was robert wadlow, and he was born on february 22, 1918 to addie johnson and harold wadlow. I remember going into a ripleys odditorium, and they had a full scale wax model of robert wadlow, and it blew my mind. I owe my fascination with the odd and unusual to robert wadlow. Robert wadlow, the tallest man ever, shouldve been nine. Wadlow is the tallest person in history whose height has been verified.
According to the guiness book of world records the tallest man ever was robert wadlow measuring in at an incredible 8 ft 11 in. Ian spofforth at 7 ft 1 was at one time listed in guinness book of records in an early edition. The alton giant also boasted the largest hands ever, at that time his height was 12. Alton museum of history and art robert pershing wadlow.
Wadlow was a quiet and mildmannered young man, which led to him be called a gentle giant. Robert was the first born of addie and harold wadlow. He couldnt go anywhere without being stared at and drawing a crowd. Alton, illinois was home to the tallest man whoever lived in recorded history. At the age of 22, he died the world s tallest man 8 feet, 11. At the time of his death in 1940, wadlow stood at 8 feet 11. At birth he weighed a normal eight pounds, but due to a pituitary gland disorder, he grew quickly. The tragically short life of the worlds tallest man. Filmed on 8th street next to old hall theater it was the communtiy building in 1940. The unique life of the boy who became the worlds tallest man. Robert wadlow, who died in 1940, still holds the guinness world record for the tallest man to ever live at eight feet 11.
Robert wadlow omnamns som varldens langsta person i guinness rekordbok. Visit this weird roadside attraction on a road trip through illinois with kids or adults. But most captivating part of that book was the section about robert wadlow, the worlds tallest person. He was formerly certified as the tallest living man by the guinness world records. According to guinness book of world records, there have only ever been. The worlds tallest man ever recorded in the history of mankind robert wadlow, was born in alton, illinois, in 1918, and was 6 feet tall by the time he was even eight years old. Robert pershing wadlow february 22, 1918 july 15, 1940, also known as the alton giant. Robert pershing wadlow was born, educated and buried in alton, illinois. I am not sure if he was listed as britains or englands tallest man. I would have liked to have read more facts about robert wadlow s life, such as how did it tells an interesting story of the world s tallest man and at the same time it teaches kids that it s ok to be different. Biography of tallest man in the world robert wadlow part 1.
May 01, 2009 worlds tallest man shuns guiness book of records zhao liang needs two beds to rest his 8ft, 1in frame, one of lifes inconveniences for the chinese giant who could become officially known as. He suffered from the disorder gigantism that makes the lower portions of the body extremely large, while the head and torso remain at normal sizes. Wadlow didnt suffer from the normal causes of gigantism but from hyperplasia of his pituitary gland, which resulted in producing an unusually high level of the human growth hormone, more commonly known as hgh. On june 27 1940 robert wadlow was the worlds tallest man according to the guinness world records. Robert wadlow the story of robert documentary 1975 youtube. Robert wadlows height the worlds tallest man page 5. Wadlow passed john rogan as the tallest person ever before his death one year ago.
Robert wadlows first official record title was the tallest teenager ever male, measuring a huge 2. We look back over the years at the tallest man, from robert wadlow tallest man ever at 8ft 11. Alistair richards, managing director of guinness world records, presents sultan kosen turkey with a certificate for being the tallest man in. About the world s tallest man robert wadlow, biography and history of the american giant. Robert pershing wadlow, also known as the alton giant and the giant of illinois, was an american man who was the tallest person in recorded history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. Robert wadlow was the tallest man in the world and, as far as we know, he is the. The unique life of the boy who became the worlds tallest man phillips, jennifer on. Lifesize robert wadlow statue, the worlds tallest man, in alton, illinois. Doctors eventually diagnosed young robert with hyperplasia of the pituitary gland, a condition that caused rapid and excessive growth due to an abnormally high level of human growth hormones in the body. Robert pershing wadlow of alton illinois tallest man in the world. Robert wadlow as pictured in the 1984 guinness book of world records. Nov 17, 20 the worlds tallest man to have ever lived.
The tallest man ever lives on in the history books and the guinness world records. Louis for the first time by a couple of washington university specialists, where the family first discovered the reason that caused his fast growth. Robert wadlow, the worlds tallest ever human kottke. Mar 10, 2018 by the age of, he stood at an incredible 7 feet, 4 inches, which made him the worlds tallest boy scout. At 811, he became the tallest man and had his name in the guinness book of world records. By the time he was eight years old, he was over six feet tall. Robert wadlow is the highest registered person in history, according to the guinness book of records, about whose growth there is undoubted information. Jan 26, 2018 worlds smallest woman meets worlds tallest man for incredible photoshoot in egypt with 6ft difference between sultan kosen, 35, from turkey, and jyoti amge, 24, from india, the photos are. He had two sisters, helen and betty, and two brothers, eugene and harold jr. He became the guinness book of records tallest man in 1937.
The tragically short life of robert wadlow, the worlds tallest man. Robert wadlow, the tallest man in the world, whose growth. The book featured a photograph of a plastic model of him, with britians tallest living man and a man of average height standing next to it. A history of recordbreaking giants 100 years after the tallest man.
Barry county museum robert wadlow, worlds tallest man. In high school robert was popular and active in many extracurricular activities, even serving as publicity director for the directory. One of the few records i remember vividly was that of the worlds tallest man, robert wadlow. By the time he graduated high school, he had landed in the record books as the tallest person in the world at 8 feet, 4 inches tall. Here are seven historic photos that show how tall this gentle giant was. He wasnt just tall, he also weighed over 400 pounds. The tallest man ever lives on in the history books and the guinness world records archives an enduring record that perhaps will never be beaten. The record holder for tallest living man is sultan kosen from turkey. Robert wadlow s brief life is a cautionary tale for any child who daydreams about being a giant. Aug 21, 2015 robert pershing wadlow, also known as the giant of illinois was the tallest man who ever lived born on feb. Tallest man guinness world records 60th anniversary youtube.
Robert wadlow, the worlds tallest man in history, with his brothers and sisters, 1936. Robert wadlows height the worlds tallest man page 7. Robert wadlow stood 811 tall at his full adult height just before his death in 1940. Due to his size, they made him a specialized desk to use during elementary school. He was born and raised in alton, illinois, a suburb of st. Robert pershing wadlow was born on february 22, 1918 in alton, illinois. Robert pershing wadlow february 22, 1918 july 15, 1940, also known as the alton giant and the giant of illinois, was an american man who was the tallest person in recorded history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. Perhaps surprisingly, robert entered the world no differently to most babies. A history of recordbreaking giants 100 years after the. For our 60th anniversary, we looked back some of the holders of our tallest human titles, from robert wadlow to sultan kosen the current tallest man living title holder standing at 8ft 3in. Robert pershing wadlow february 22, 1918 july 15, 1940, also known as the alton giant and the giant of illinois, was an american who became famous as the tallest person ever in human recorded history for whom there is irrefutable. The wadlows would go on to have four more children after robert, who was their first born.
Worlds tallest man shuns guiness book of records telegraph. Robert pershing wadlow february 22, 1918 july 15, 1940, also known as the alton giant and the giant of illinois, was an american man who was the tallest person in recorded. Aug 08, 2007 a ukrainian man has been named the worlds tallest living person by the guinness book of records, beating the previous record holder by 22cm 8in. Robert wadlow at age, featured in the evening star, july 24, 1931. The robert wadlow web site today is one of the most visited in the world. Robert wadlow, the tallest man ever, shouldve been nine feet tall. Robert was born on february 22, 1918, and weighed a normal eight pounds, six ounces. This is robert wadlow, the worlds tallest man that ever. The tallest man in history was too huge for words, so take a look. Robert wadlow tallest man ever according to the guinness. The tallest man in medical history for whom there is irrefutable evidence is robert pershing wadlow usa born 6.
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