Not-so-secret weapon: world’s second-tallest man leads Iran into sitting volleyball final

Morteza Mehrzad dislikes attention that comes with being 8ft 1in tall but the sport, says his coach, has helped him When the decisive spike smashed off the Egyptian defence to seal Iranian victory in their sitting volleyball semi-final it was fitting it should be delivered by Morteza Mehrzad; their not-so secret weapon, he is also the world’s second-tallest man. Mehrzad, 36, is 8ft 1in tall. He was born with gigantism and also uses a wheelchair after a bike accident as a teenager caused an injury that stopped his right leg from growing. When the ball is served in his sport he must push his head down to keep it under the cord of the net.