Big and small wonders

Standing out: Iran’s Morteza Mehrzad towers over his teammates during their national anthem before the sitting volleyball men’s pool B match against Ukraine. Standing at 2.46m, Mehrzad is the second tallest living man in the world and the tallest athlete ever to compete in the Paralympics. — AFP

IRAN’S sitting volleyball star, Morteza Mehrzad, has battled countless challenges due to his towering height, but now he’s ready to help propel his team to another victory at the Paris Paralympics.

At an imposing 2.46m (8’0.85’’), Mehrzad is the second tallest living man in the world and the tallest athlete ever to compete in the Paralympics, according to the International Paralympic Committee website.