Throughout history, mankind has always been struck by numerous stories and legends about mythical giants, people or deities who have reached incredible sizes. Although most of them are nothing more than legends, such as Goliath, the king of OG or the titans. Some of these myths are based on real facts. There are many records of incredibly tall people who lived in the past. While some of them are wildly exaggerated, many are based on solid evidence. Robert Pershing Wadlow, also known as the Elton Giant, was the tallest man in human history.
Robert Wadlow: biography
An unusual person was born like all other children, but later became famous all over the world thanks to his unusual illness. Robert Pershing Wadlow was born, educated and buried in Alton, StateIllinois. He is known as the tallest man in history, who, thanks to his height, got into the Guinness Book of Records. At birth, Robert weighed 3.6 kg. He attracted attention when at six months his weight reached 30 kilograms. A year later, at 18 months, he weighed 62 kilograms. He continued to grow at an astounding pace, reaching 183 cm and 88 kg when he was eight years old.
His middle name, Pershing, he received in honor of the general who took part in the First World War. Robert was the first child of his parents, Addy and Harold. Later, two sisters, Helen and Betty, and two brothers, Eugene and Harold Jr., appeared in the family. And all, except for Robert, were of normal height and weight. While trying to lead a normal life, Robert enjoyed collecting stamps and photographs.
He managed to become the world's tallest Boy Scout at 2.14m at the age of 13. At 18, he reached 2.45 m in height and weighed 190 kilograms. His clothes required three times the amount of fabric to make, and his oversized boots cost about $100 a pair. By the time he was 20, Robert was a shoe company representative, having traveled to more than 800 cities and 41 states. His father had to modify the family car by removing the front passenger seat so that Robert could sit comfortably in the back and stretch out his long legs. The father and son team traveled over 300,000 km during their goodwill tour for the shoe company. Robert was very fond of his mother Addie, for which he received the nickname gentlegiant.”
Unreal size
Robert Wadlow was born on February 22, 1918 in Alton, USA. According to the latest measurements (1940-27-06), it was found that the growth of this giant reached 2.72 meters. Death came to him on 1940-15-07 in a hotel in Manistee (Michigan). He died at the age of 22 as a result of a purulent infection on his right ankle. His maximum recorded weight was over 222 kilograms, and at the age of 21 his weight reached 199 kg. His shoe size was 37AA (47 cm), the palm length was 32.4 cm. Robert wore a size 25 ring. The arm span reached 2.88 m, and his peak daily diet included about 8000 kilocalories. At 9 years old, this mighty and tall burly man could pick up his father Harold Wadlow, whose height was 1.8 meters and weighed 77 kilograms, and lift him up the stairs of his parents' house.
Anomalous Hypertrophy
Robert Wadlow, who not only grew to enormous human proportions, but continued to grow into adulthood, suffered from pituitary hypertrophy, which led to abnormally high levels of human growth hormone. The giant continued to grow until his death. Large dimensions had a negative impact on he alth: he was forced to walk, leaning on a cane, as his legs and feet hurt. Despite this, Robert Wadlow was never confined to a wheelchair. At one time he was among the most popular American celebrities. He became widely known on an American tour with the Ringling Brothers Circus in 1936. He has taken part in various tours and numerous public appearances.
Untimely death of a giant
July 4, 1940, during his professional performance at the National Forest Festival, a loose bandage rubbed Robert's ankles hard, causing festering blisters that eventually infected the wounds. An emergency operation and a blood transfusion were performed, but it was not possible to save him. His condition worsened, and on July 15, 1940, he died in his sleep. He was only 22. About 40,000 people attended the funeral, which took place on 19 July. He was buried in a coffin that weighed half a ton. It took 12 porters to carry it. Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man, was buried in a cast-in-place concrete vault.
The giant managed to leave his mark for posterity
In 1985, a life-size bronze statue of Robert Wadlow was erected at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville School of Dentistry. It can also be seen in full growth among other incredible exhibits in the world-famous Guinness Hall of World Records in the Empire State Building in New York.
