Reaching New Heights: Some Tall Paralympic Athletes
Throughout the history of the Paralympic Games, athletes have showcased not only incredible skill and determination but also remarkable physical attributes. Among these, height has often played a significant role, particularly in sports where reach and leverage are advantageous.
being tall in sitting volleyball is advantageousThe Tallest Para-Athletes?
There are very limited stats available about the height of athletes at the Paralympics (unlike for the Olympic Games athletes). However, even without extensive player data, it is clear that the star player of Iran’s sitting volleyball team, Morteza Mehrzadselakjani (also known as Mehrzad), is the tallest-ever Paralympian. He is in fact the world's second tallest living person, and the seventh tallest human in recorded history. Mehrzad is 2.46 meters (8 ft 1 in) tall. The tallest ever Olympian is Chinese basketballer Yao Ming at 226 cm (7 ft 5 in). Mehrzad has a condition called acromegaly, a result of excessive growth hormone production.
We have also noticed another tall athlete at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Senegal para-taekwondo athlete Idrissa Keita towered over his opposition, though we have not found any information about his height. Watching him on the Paralympic broadcast he is obviously very tall.
In Which Para-Sports Is It Advantageous To Be Tall?
While height can offer advantages in many sports, it's important to note that the classification system in the Paralympics is designed to ensure fair competition, so the overall impact of height can vary depending on the specific disability class and the sport's requirements.
That being said, there are a few sports in which there are many tall athletes and height can play a big part in their success.
In wheelchair basketball, height is a significant advantage for both shooting and defending. Taller players have a longer reach, making it easier to block shots, pass over defenders, and shoot from a higher point. Height also helps in rebounding, as taller athletes can reach higher for the ball.
In sitting volleyball, a tall player with a long wingspan can cover more ground and reach higher during attacks and blocks. The ability to reach above the net and strike the ball at a more downward angle is beneficial for spiking and blocking.
In track and field events such as the long jump, the high jump, and certain throwing events like javelin, shot put, and discus, height can contribute to greater leverage and stride length. This can lead to longer jumps or more powerful throws. Taller runners in middle and long-distance races may also benefit from a longer stride.
In swimming, a tall stature is often beneficial because it typically comes with a longer wingspan and larger hands and feet, which can improve propulsion in the water. This is particularly advantageous in freestyle and backstroke events.
Tall athletes have longer limbs, which can increase the length of each stroke in rowing. This allows for greater power and efficiency with each pull, making height an advantage in this sport.
In goalball, where players are blindfolded, tall players can cover more area of the goal when defending. Their reach can also help in blocking and retrieving the ball.
Related Pages
- Tallest Olympic Athletes
- Paralympic Games Athletes
- Paralympic Games Trivia
- World's Tallest in Sports
- Anthropometry at the Olympics
- Procedure for measuring Height
- Converting cm to ft and in and vice versa.
- Examples of the World's tallest and shortest people
- Height growth charts — monitoring height changes over time
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