The Unbreakable Record of Robert Wadlow
There exists one world record that I can guarantee no one will ever break. So confident am I in this claim that I am prepared to wager one thousand pounds of my own money on it. The record in question belongs to the incredible Robert Pershing Wadlow, who reached a towering height of 8 feet 11.1 inches, making him the tallest person ever recorded. I am Craig Glenn, the editor-in-chief at Guinness World Records, and over the past 18 years, I have measured more of the world's tallest people than anyone else. Yet, none have come close to the phenomenal height of the Alton Giant, Robert Wadlow. His stature was so unprecedented that I doubt we will ever see anyone like him again. Here’s why I’m confident that Wadlow’s record will never be beaten and why my thousand pounds will remain in my pocket.
To begin with, we can eliminate at least half of the world’s population since no woman has ever been the tallest human in recorded history. The only woman who ever held the record for the tallest living human being was Zeng Jinlian of China, who reached a peak height of 8 feet 1 inch. Despite this impressive stature, she was still 10 inches shorter than Robert Wadlow. Even women who were supposedly taller, like the circus performer Giant Amazon Queen Mariana Veda of Germany, were not officially measured and often came up short when compared to Wadlow.
Next, we can discount individuals who are simply genetically tall. Some people, like the Zegwart family of the Netherlands, are blessed (or cursed) with height due to their genetics. This family, comprising a mother, father, and three siblings, averages 6 feet 7 inches, making them the tallest family in the world. Tall twins often share this genetic trait as well. For example, American sisters Claire and Ann Wreck each stand at 6 feet 7 inches. The tallest genetically tall person I’ve measured was Neil Fingleton, a former UK basketball player who reached 7 feet 7.5 inches. Despite impressive heights, these genetically tall individuals still fall short of Wadlow’s record.
People like Sun Ming Ming of China, who was the tallest basketball player in the world at 7 feet 9 inches, owe their height to pathological conditions rather than genetics. Sun Ming Ming’s extraordinary height was caused by an overproduction of growth hormones, which is often a result of a medical condition involving the pituitary gland. For instance, Sultan Kösen of Turkey, currently the world's tallest living person at 8 feet 3 inches, had a tumor on his pituitary gland that caused excessive growth hormone production. This is a common cause of gigantism and can result in extreme height.
However, advances in medical science now allow us to treat these conditions effectively. For instance, in Sultan’s case, the tumor was surgically removed when he was 28, halting his growth. Similarly, treatments for rare chromosomal disorders, like those that affected record-breaking teenager Brendan Adams, can mitigate excessive growth once doctors know what they are dealing with.
Robert Wadlow’s case was unique. Born in Alton, Illinois, in 1918, his pituitary gland was compromised early on due to hypertrophy, a condition where the gland was much larger than expected. By the age of six, he was already 5 feet 7 inches tall. At 16, he crossed the 8-foot mark, and by his 21st birthday, he was recognized as the tallest human ever scientifically measured at 8 feet 9 inches. Unfortunately, due to medical advice and the risks associated with surgery at the time, his pituitary gland was never treated.
Wadlow's life was challenging due to his unique condition. He traveled extensively for promotional appearances, becoming a nationwide superstar. However, his health issues eventually caught up with him. In 1940, during a promotional tour, he developed an infection from a metal brace supporting his ankle. Despite medical efforts, Robert succumbed to the infection at the age of 22.
It is tragic to think that something as treatable as an infected ankle was a death sentence 80 years ago. However, this is precisely why I believe we will never see anyone reach Wadlow’s height again. Modern medicine can now prevent excessive growth and manage the complications of gigantism long before they become life-threatening. Consequently, the likelihood of a child growing up with a pituitary issue as extreme as Wadlow’s, yet remaining untreated by doctors, is extraordinarily rare.
Therefore, my thousand pounds is safe. Not because I don’t want to lose the money, but because I am genuinely relieved that no one will have to endure the challenges faced by Robert Wadlow, the gentleman giant who took it all in stride.