Photo: ran's #2 Morteza Mehrzadselakjani (2-L) and his teammates listen to their national anthem prior to the the sitting volleyball men's preliminary round pool B match between Iran and Ukraine during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games at the North Paris Arena in Paris on August 30.//AFP
The world's second tallest man is competing in the Paralympics - but he is so tall, he has to sleep on the floor.
Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, better known as Mehrzad, is 8ft 0.85in tall and a two-time Paralympic champion in sitting volleyball, representing Iran.
But even though he had a custom-made bed for the Tokyo Paralympics, he's having to sleep on the floor in Paris, according to his coach.
"He doesn't have a special bed, but he has got the most important aim in his mind," head coach Hadi Rezaeigarkani told Olympics.com.
Photo: Mehrzad fends off a ball from Denys Bytchenko from Ukraine on 30 August.//AP
"It doesn't matter for him whether he will lay on the floor or he's not going to have enough to eat. He has the mind to become a champion."
He spent five years alone in his house because he was too embarrassed to go outside. Now, he's hoping to become a three-time Paralympic champion.
Iran has won seven of the nine tournaments they have competed at since their first try at Seoul 1988.
A gold at Paris 2024 would be a hat-trick for Mehrzad who made his Paralympic debut in 2016, also becoming the tallest athlete to ever compete at a Paralympic Games.
