Morteza Mehrzadselakjani: The Tallest Paralympian Aims for His Third Gold at the 2024 Paris Paralympics
Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, the tallest Paralympian in history, is set to compete for his third consecutive gold medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Known simply as Mehrzad, this towering figure stands at an astonishing eight feet, one inch (2.46 meters) tall, making him not only a standout athlete but also the joint-second tallest man in the world.
At 36 years old, Mehrzad has already secured two Paralympic gold medals, playing a pivotal role in Iran’s men’s sitting volleyball team. His incredible height and skill make him an essential asset to the team, which claimed victories at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Despite his dominance on the court, Mehrzad’s journey to the Paralympics was anything but conventional. Diagnosed with acromegaly—a condition that causes excessive growth hormone production—Mehrzad faced unique challenges throughout his life. As a teenager, a bicycle accident resulted in a fractured pelvis, causing his right leg to stop growing, which left it shorter than his left leg and made walking difficult. It wasn’t until he was discovered on a television program that his volleyball talents came to light. Remarkably, he joined the national team just six months before the Rio Games.
Mehrzad’s towering presence is a game-changer in sitting volleyball. Even when seated on the floor, his reach exceeds six feet, making him a formidable opponent on the court. His physical attributes, which once seemed like a burden, have become his greatest strengths, allowing him to excel in a sport where height can be a decisive factor.
Beyond his Paralympic success, Mehrzad has been recognized as the sport’s best player in 2019, 2021, and 2022. However, he remains humble, often deflecting praise to his teammates. “I appreciate being called the best in the game, but I’m not,” he said, emphasizing that the strength of Iran’s team lies in their unity. “Each of our guys is the best … and we make the best team in the world.”
Iran has long been a dominant force in men’s sitting volleyball, securing gold in seven of the nine Paralympic Games since the sport was introduced at the Seoul 1988 Paralympics. As the team heads to Paris, the pressure is on to continue their winning streak and claim another gold.
“Our biggest challenge is that Iranian people expect us to become champions, which puts a heavy responsibility on our athletes and coaches,” said Iran’s head coach Rezaei. The expectations are clear: anything less than a gold medal would be considered a failure.
As Mehrzad and his team prepare for the 2024 Paris Paralympics, the world will be watching to see if they can achieve the elusive three-peat and further cement their legacy as the best in the world.
