A Turkish woman, Rumelysa Gelgi who stands at 7 feet, 0.7 inches has been declared the world’s tallest woman by Guinness World Records. Her height is due to a rare condition called Weaver syndrome that causes accelerated growth among other symptoms including skeletal maturation, GWR said in a statement. As a result, the 24-year-old uses a wheelchair to get around most of the time, though she can move using a walker for short periods.
Gelsi’s new honor adds a unique distinction for Turkey since it’s also home to 8-foot-3-inch Sultan Kosen ― the world’s tallest living man says Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief at Guinness World Records.
The last time the two tallest people hailed from the same country was in 2009 when China’s Defen and Bao Xi Shun (7 feet, 8.95 inches) held the tallest woman and tallest man records respectively.