The tallest man has spoken candidly about the one thing he would alter about his life, and what he wishes he could do if that change were possible.
Sultan Kosen, 43, stands at 8ft 3ins and has held the Guinness World Record for 17 years.
Originally from Turkey, Kosen lives with gigantism and acromegaly, conditions caused by a tumour that put pressure on his pituitary gland. Despite his extraordinary height, he comes from a farming family in which everyone else is of average stature.
As a result of his condition, he has relied on a wheelchair and crutches since he was 25. He has also spoken about living in “constant pain” due to the strain his size puts on his body. Over the years, he has undergone multiple procedures — including three operations on his legs and three brain surgeries — in an effort to manage the symptoms linked to his continued growth.
Kosen appears in a Channel 4 documentary titled The World’s Tallest Man, where he discusses how his height has affected his health and day-to-day life. Asked what he would change if he could, he pointed to one specific issue.
“If I wanted to change something in my life, I would only change my knees,” he said. “I would like to run, walk and travel more.”
His brother, Hasan Kosen, also shared his perspective on Sultan’s personal life and how he spends his time.
His brother, Hasan Kosen, said: “Sultan could be happier. His free time is always spent on the computer. But if he finds a girlfriend there can be other things in his life.”
The world’s tallest man was previously married, though the relationship eventually ended.
In 2013, Kosen married Merve Dibo, who is from Syria and is 5ft 6ins. She was 20 at the time. Kosen has said he “loved her very much”, describing marriage and starting a family as a long-held goal.
“When I looked into her eyes, I knew it was love,” Kosen said at the time of the wedding, which had 1,500 guests.
Not long after they married, speculation began circulating that the couple were having difficulties.
At the time, the pair publicly dismissed the rumours during a joint media appearance, with Kosen addressing what he said were frequent calls from concerned people.
During a joint media interview, Kosen said: “Everyone is calling me, five, six people, call me every day. ‘Is it true? Did your wife leave you?’ My wife didn’t go anywhere. I want everyone to see because my wife is here.”
Merve added: “There’s no such thing. I wish t stay with him all my life. Yes, I am the happiest woman in the world.”
Despite that, the marriage later came to an end, and the couple divorced in 2021.
Looking back in the documentary, Kosen explained what led to their separation and how he feels about it now.
When reflecting on the end of the relationship, Kosen said in the documentary: “We couldn’t continue. My wife chose her family. We got divorced. Our happiness didn’t last long.”
He also described the sadness he experiences when he revisits images from their wedding day.
When looking back at his wedding pictures, he shared: “When it comes to my mind, I’m very sad, because it hurt me a lot and I loved her a lot. When I look at these photos, I get emotional. I’m very sorry.”