Robert Wadlow: The Tallest Man in History

You might recognize Yao Ming, a Chinese basketball player, as the tallest man in the world. However, that title belongs to a man from the past. Robert Wadlow was overbearing compared to the largest people on the planet today. While there are mentions of others that would take this record from him, he remained the tallest – with irrefutable evidence to prove it.

Norris and Ross McWhirter took it upon themselves to seek Robert out to add him to their Guinness World Records list. In the process, they removed Og, King of Bashan, citing “confusing” units of measurement in the Bible. Thus, Robert Wadlow took a spot on the list at 2.72 meters or 8 feet and 11 inches.

The Impact of His Affliction

Robert was considered a giant. While it might seem exciting or glamorous, it had a largely negative impact on his lifestyle. Entering adulthood, he had to consume between seven and eight thousand calories a day. He used a walking stick for most of his life. Moreover, to ensure that his legs didn’t take damage in the long run, they also had to fit him with special leg braces. 

For obvious reasons, he was limited to specific transportation. The average car couldn’t house a man of his stature. Instead, Robert Wadlow used public transport when possible. His leg braces would eventually cause his death. An incorrectly adjusted leg brace on his right ankle would cause a septic blister, which led to his passing. Sadly, on July 15th, 1940, he left this world saying, “The doctor says I won’t get home for the celebrations.”

How Did He Get So Tall?

Surprisingly, Robert had a normal birth and growth rate up until four years of age. So, when doctors started looking into the cause of his absurd height, they discarded birth defects. However, when he turned five, he started using clothing meant for teenagers. At age eight, he had already surpassed six feet. Funnily enough, this increased growth rate even had an impact on some of the activities he took part in.

For example, in the boy scouts, they had to provide him with custom-made clothing, a larger tent, and a sleeping bag. Additionally, while taking the title for the tallest man in history, he also has it for youths between 12 and 18 years of age. After long-term investigation and testing, doctors came to a safe conclusion for his irregular size. It appeared that his pituitary gland was enlarged and working overtime. What was it produced in excess?  Growth hormones. Sadly, because the medical team behind the discovery found out about this after the damage was done, no treatment could reverse the effects.