Iranian sitting volleyball star Morteza Mehrzadselakjani is making headlines at the 2024 Paris Paralympics as he goes for his third gold medal. The 36-year-old athlete, also known as Mehrzad, is the tallest Paralympian in history, standing at an impressive 2 meters, 46 centimeters (8 feet, 1 inch) tall.
Throughout his career, Mehrzadselakjani has been a key member of the Iranian sitting volleyball men's team that has won two consecutive gold medals in Rio and Tokyo. While acromegaly is usually considered a detrimental condition, for the athlete it has become an advantage in volleyball. Ordinarily diagnosed at an early stage, Mehrzadselakjani has adverse effects of the condition which limit him in some regards as a blessing.
A Strange Path Towards Success
At first, Mehrzadselakjani was playing for the sitting volleyball national team for a mere six months when the Rio Games started. He was indicated on a TV Show, the rest is as people say history. He is today regarded as one of the best players of the game and has also been awarded the 'Best Player' three times (2019, 2021, and 2022).
(Photo : (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images))
Inspite of the accolades he has received, Mehrzadselenkajani's leaves no stones unturned in remaining modest. "I appreciate being called the best in the game, but I'm not," he said, according to CNN. "Each of our guys is the best ... and we make the best team in the world."
As the 2024 Paris Paralympics are underway, there will be not one but two gold medals for which every eye will focus on Mehrzadselakjani and the Iranian men's sitting volleyball side as they target a third gold in a roll.
Early Life and Diagnosis
Mehrzad was born on September, 17, 1987, in Kelachay, Iran. He got his first diagnosis of acromegaly - a rare disease which being among the complications leads to abnormal production of growth hormone and excessive height.
Mehrzadselakjani's sporting talent drew the interest of the national head coach of Iran, Hadi Rezaei in 2011. He was encouraged for sitting volleyball and he was able to develop fast and even played for the national team by 2016. It was from then that he started dominating the sport and assisted the Iranian team to win numerous crowns shipped while also baggaging individual awards inclusive of three 'Best Player' awards.
Mehrzadselakjani's height and condition have posed problems such as a bicycle accident which left him with a serious pelvis fracture when he was 15 years of age. The injury led to a condition where his right leg stopped growing, leaving it 15 centimeters shorter than the left one. However, despite all their challenges, there are still a lot of people, including the present writer, whom Mehrzadselakjani inspires on and off the court.
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