Igor Vovkovinskiy might only be 27, but he has had quite the journey. He was born in Ukraine, but came to America at age 7 to get radical pituitary gland surgery to halt his unusual growth. However, he didn’t stop growing until he was 7 feet, 8 inches tall. That height, plus his status as an American citizen, is what makes Igor Vovkovinskiy the tallest man in America, according to the Guinness World Records folks.
He’s short compared to Sultan Kosen, the world’s tallest man, but he’s still pretty tall as this photo of Igor at an Obama rally shows! He just might be the world’s tallest college student, too; Igor is enrolled in the Minnosota School of Business and is pursuing a degree in paralegal studies. Vovkovinskiy beat out Norfolk, Virginia, deputy sheriff George Bell by a third of an inch to claim the title in a measure-off conducted by Guinness on The Dr. Oz Show.
That’s okay, George. You’re still the world’s tallest cop!
Tags: Igor Vovkovinskiy, Rochester, Minnesota, 7 foot 8 inch man in Minnesota, America’s tallest man, The Dr. Oz Show, medical oddities, unusual people, giants, Guinness World Records, George Bell, Norfolk, Virginia