Tallest Man Controversy

Anyone who remembers the age controversy over China’s gold medal gymnasts last summer will rightfully be suspicious of this news: “A contender for world's tallest man underwent foot surgery at a Chinese hospital where doctors confirmed he is 10 centimetres (four inches) taller than the current title-holder, state press said Tuesday.” Zhao Liang, 27, was 2.46 meters tall when he had an operation to relieve a foot injury a decade a go. Guinness World Records judges were not able to measure him, however, until after the surgery. One fact that throws a wrench in the conspiracy theory: The current official tallest man is also Chinese.