The tragic end of the tallest man in history; did not stop growing

At 2.72 meters tall, Robert Wadlow became the tallest man in history. His affability, education and size helped him not only to earn a place in almost every edition of the Guinness World Records book -since its inauguration in 1955-, but also to obtain the love of dozens of people and the title of hero of Alton, your natal city.

“Robert’s whole story is absolutely phenomenal because even when he died he continued to teach us so many lessons. One of his favorite quotes was ‘stand tall and be the best person you can be’. He certainly did that all his life.”, pointed out Nancy Alexander, from the Alton Museum of History and Art, for a documentary by the newspaper ‘The Telegraph’.

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The ‘Alton Giant’, as he was affectionately called by the American community, had a short but fruitful life. His 32.3-centimeter (cm) hands and 47-cm feet did not prevent him from becoming a celebrity, shining for his unusual quality and enduring, even after his death, in the archives of Guinness World Records as the tallest man in history.

A child of exorbitant magnitudes

When Robert Wadlow was born, on February 22, 1918, his arrival was not unlike many babies. Healthy, happy and healthy, he only weighed 3.85 kilograms, a figure that is within the normal standards for a newborn, according to the specialized portal ‘Kids Health’.

However, normality did not last long: his age advanced and with it his size. By the age of five she had reached a height of 1.73 meters and by the age of eight, she had already surpassed her father, who was 180.3 centimeters tall.

“When most of the children were still being carried by their parents, Robert was able to carry his father down the stairs of his house.”, points out the Guinness World Records page.

Khagendra Thapa Magar, the world’s smallest teenager, stands next to a life-size figure of Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man. (AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel Dunand).

The exorbitant height that was acquiring as time passed did not go unnoticed. Soon Robert began to stand out above most adults; however, that was not an impediment for him to try to lead a normal life.

At the age of 13 he became the tallest Boy Scout in the world with a height of 2.23 meters. Although he had to customize the uniform, a tent and sleeping bag, his commitment to the organization, the community and himself was much stronger than any number.

In his school, the situation was not far from the previous one either. With wooden blocks at the bottom, schools made special desks for him. The objective, of course, was to provide you with comfort, security and, above all, normalcy.

“The teachers said that he was doing well in school. The chairs, tables and everything were too small for him, so he always had to sit in the back of the room, ”explained Alexander for the aforementioned documentary.

His height, far from showing signs of slowing down, only increased. When he graduated from high school in 1936, he was 2.54 meters tall, according to the science and history portal ‘All That’s Interesting’.

Robert Wadlow, the tallest man in history, with his family in 1935. pic.twitter.com/ZRazhc3I7q

— Jesus Chrysler (@JesusChrysler1) January 11, 2023

Once he finished high school, Robert enrolled in Shurtleff College -a university located in Alton, Illinois- to fulfill a dream, to study law; However, his life had another surprise in store for him: becoming a celebrity at the hands of a popular American circus.

Becoming a celebrity

What in his childhood was a barrier to lead a life like the children of his age, in his adolescence became his best differentiating characteristic to achieve fame.

Standing over eight feet tall, the Ringling Brothers Circus, one of the largest in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, set its sights on Robert and he, with nothing to lose, he agreed to tour with them.

Robert used his height to gain celebrity status, make a few monetizable public appearances, and become an ambassador for major brands like the International Show Company, who agreed to make him custom shoes for free.

Robert Wadlow, the tallest person in history at 8ft 11.1in, and Clarence Howerton, one of the smallest people alive at the time at 2ft 4in, compared their shoe sizes, 1937. pic.twitter.com/SLzAQ8WWeq

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“This was a blessing for Robert as he had incredible 47cm feet, the biggest ever. His shoes could cost as much as 100 dollars, equivalent to 1,500 dollars – just over seven million Colombian pesos – in today’s currency ”, details Guinness World Records.

According to the portal specialized in science and history mentioned above, Robert went on to visit more than 800 towns in 41 states. When she wasn’t promoting shoes or performing in circus shows, she led a seemingly quiet life in which playing the guitar, taking pictures, and socializing were her favorite pastimes.

Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man ever, next to a jockey. From “The Gentleman Giant” by Frederic Fadner, 1944. #giants #giant #robertwadlow #tallpeople #tallestman #tallestmanonearth #tallestmanever #wadlow #sideshow #gigantism pic.twitter.com/5TXXa9D5yQ

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Although her life was exciting in many ways, it was also difficult. Houses, public spaces, and household items were not made for a man of his size, and therefore he had to make allowances and adjustments in order to accomplish simple tasks. Soon his height began to affect not only his daily life, but also his state of health.

An exciting life, but with health complications

Robert was diagnosed by doctors with pituitary gigantism at the age of 12, according to the official website of Guinness World Records, a rare disorder involving excess growth hormone. According to the MSD Manual -medical book specialized in diseases and treatments-, this disease generates an increase in the speed of bone growth and, also, in the final height.

Thanks to advances in science, this disorder can currently be treated -surgery that stops the production of growth hormone-; Nevertheless, By the time Robert was diagnosed, his case generated great fear, rejection, and shock among the doctors, who did not dare to operate on him. With a daily food intake of 8,000 calories, the ‘Alton Giant’ continued to grow until the day he died.

“Robert Wadlow escaped the attention of surgeons, as they were not confident enough to operate on him, so he could remain the world’s tallest man for a long time,” Dr. Donald Rau explained to Guinness World Records.

Robert’s large size soon took its toll on him: he had braces and a cane. It was his legs that caused his premature death on July 15, 1940, at the age of 22.

The lack of sensation in his lower extremities prevented him from noticing the formation of a septic blister, caused by one of his braces. Although the doctors did everything possible to save his life, Robert’s height had left him with a weakened immune system that eventually caused him to succumb to the infection.

‘The friendly giant’, as he was also known by his community, was buried in a coffin that measured 3.28 meters long, 81 centimeters wide and 76 centimeters deep.. His family, friends and relatives said their last goodbyes at Oakwood Cemetery, located in his hometown.

It’s been more than eight decades since Robert Wadlow died, but his legacy remains as great as he is. Since 1986, a life-size statue located in front of the Alton Museum of History and Art immortalizes the image of its most popular resident.

Until now no one has been able to beat his tallest man record in history and surely no one will. Robert Wadlow is a legend with a giant body, mind and heart.

Source: Elcomercio