Standing at 7 foot 9 inches and towering over his new wife the world’s tallest man married a woman two-thirds his size and almost half his age in a traditional Mongolian ceremony sponsored by at least 15 companies hoping to cash in on his fame.
Hundreds of people, some travelling for hours, turned up to see Bao, 59, wed saleswoman Xia Shujuan, a mere 5 foot 6 inches tall and just 29 years old.
Draped in a shimmering blue silk coat, Bao waved to the crowd before going into an enormous yurt where guests ate lamb and cheese and watched Mongolian song and dance shows.
Most children are desperate to fit in, but blending into the background wasn’t an option for the youngsters in this jaw-dropping documentary. The staremongers among us couldn’t help gawping in disbelief as we met American teenager Brenden Adams. At just 13 years old, he already stands at 7ft, 4.5 inches tall, making him the tallest boy in the world.
Brenden was born with a unique genetic abnormality, which has also caused painfully enlarged joints, making everyday physical activities, such as running or making a fist, virtually impossible. To the relief of Brenden’s parents – who custom-built their house with 9ft ceilings to accommodate their lofty son – doctors have finally managed to control his massive growth spurts with drugs.
Then it was over to Thailand to visit 17-year-old Malee Duangdee. In a nation where 5ft 8in is considered tall, it was hardly surprising that 6ft 10in Malee struggled to fit in. “So many times I ask myself why?” said Malee, whose enormous height is caused by a potentially fatal tumour on her pituitary gland. “I sit in front of the mirror and cry. Why am I not the same as other people?” Like Brenden, her condition could be controlled by drugs, but her impoverished family simply can’t afford them.
Malee found an unlikely saviour in the form of Craig Glenday, editor of the Guinness World Records book, who travelled from London to Bangkok to meet her. After rigorous measuring over a 24-hour period (apparently, most of us shrink over the course of a day), Malee was officially pronounced the world’s tallest girl. Her overjoyed parents applauded the verdict, hopeful that the resulting fame and fortune will help buy the life-saving drugs she so desperately needs.
Most of us have, at some stage in our lives, wished we stood out from the crowd – but, watching the trials and tribulations of the teenagers in this programme, we’ve never felt so grateful to be average.
