World's Tallest Man Struggles to Fit In

Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:25 AM EDT
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Leonid Stadnik's phenomenal height has forced him to quit a job he loved and to stoop as he moves around his house.

But Stadnik, who Guinness World Records says is the world's tallest human, says his condition has also taught him that there are many kindhearted strangers.

Since his recognition by Ukrainian record keepers four years ago, and by Guinness last year, people from all over Ukraine and the world have sent him outsized clothing, provided his home with running water and recently presented him with a giant bicycle. And on Monday, he got a new car, courtesy of President Viktor Yushchenko.

"Thanks to good people I have shoes and clothes," said the 37-year-old former veterinarian, who still lives with his 66-year-old mother.

In 2006, Stadnik was officially measured at 8 feet 5 inches tall, surpassing a 7-foot-9-inch Chinese man to claim the title of the world's tallest person.

His growth spurt began at age 14 after a brain operation that apparently stimulated the overproduction of growth hormone. Doctors say he has been growing ever since.

While his size is intimidating, Stadnik charms visitors with a broad grin and childlike laugh. He seems at times like a lonely boy trapped in a giant's body, even keeping stuffed toys on his pillow.

Stadnik's stature has brought attention, but he struggles to lead a normal life.

All the doorways in his one-story brick house are too short for him to pass through without stooping. His 440 pounds cause constant knee pain and often force him to use crutches.

Stadnik loves animals, but had to quit his job as a veterinarian at a cattle farm after suffering frostbite when he walked to work in his socks in winter. He could not afford custom made shoes for his 17-inch feet.

But his fame has taught him not to despair.

A German who said he was his distant relative asked Stadnik for a visit several years ago. On the trip, Stadnik got to sample frog legs in an elegant restaurant and saw a roller coaster at an amusement park — both for the first time.

Shortly afterward, Stadnik came home one day and saw a new computer connected to the Web sitting on his desk — a gift from a local Internet provider. Company workers "sneaked into the house like little spies" to install the equipment, Stadnik joked.

Since then he has made many online friends, including several in the United States, Australia and Russia. Stadnik hopes to learn English so he can communicate better with his Anglophone contacts; currently, he relies on computer translations, which he says are often inadequate.

On Sunday, an organization for the disabled in his home village of Podolyantsi, 125 miles west of Kiev, gave Stadnik a giant bike so he can ride to the grocery store in a nearby village. The group also presented Stadnik with a fitness machine.

"I have always dreamt that my life and the life of my loved ones ... would become more comfortable," Stadnik said. "My dream is coming true."

On Monday, he traveled to Kiev to get a new, shiny-blue van. Stadnik struggled to squeeze himself into the passenger's seat, his knees nearly reaching up to his face. Yushchenko then briefly took the beaming Stadnik for a drive.

Village authorities have promised to supply gas.

His neighbors joke that they may also benefit from Stadnik's success. "Of course we are proud of him — we may have gas here soon thanks to him," said the 75-year-old Nila Kravchuk.

Since he quit his job, Stadnik has concentrated on managing the family garden and caring for his three cows, his horse and assorted pigs and chickens. He lives with his mother, Halyna, and his 42-year-old sister Larysa.

Stadnik says his dream is finding a soul mate, just like the former titleholder, China's Bao Xishun, who was married last year.

"I think the future holds that for me," he said.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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{"commentId":1613718,"authorDomain":"agio"}
agio

Touching and interesting... but front page news??

{"commentId":1613718,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"agio"}
  • 3 votes
Reply#1 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:56 AM EDT
{"commentId":1613881,"authorDomain":"brianford"}
Brian Ford

It's a nice break from the politics, if you ask me.

{"commentId":1613881,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"brianford"}
  • 17 votes
#1.1 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:42 AM EDT
{"commentId":1613888,"authorDomain":"caroaber"}
caroaber

The AP picked it up from the British press, which covered the story last week. (I believe it was Sky News.)

{"commentId":1613888,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"caroaber"}
  • 2 votes
#1.2 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:44 AM EDT
{"commentId":1614471,"authorDomain":"prezo"}
PrezO

I agree with Brian Ford. Better than all the negative crap we've been seeing in the past coupla weeks.

I feel sorry for the big guy. But he seems like a nice, genial guy. Hope he finds what he's looking for.

{"commentId":1614471,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"prezo"}
  • 2 votes
#1.3 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:09 PM EDT
{"commentId":1615454,"authorDomain":"johnlam"}
John Lam
It's a nice break from…politics

My sentiments exactly…but for a different reason. Why must we rely so much upon politics and its burdensome coordination costs? Why must people believe politics is the only way to get things done? Why cannot we rely more upon entrepreneurial, cooperative, corporate, civic, and other organizational structure, instead of calling for inefficient and often corrupt government to get things done?

Politics should be boring (except to political and social scientists), not the only source of hope for most. I picture, in my mind and from my own experience, supplicants to legislators not far from images of supplicants to the church during the Dark Ages.

{"commentId":1615454,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"johnlam"}
  • 2 votes
#1.4 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:06 PM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":1613743,"authorDomain":"query254"}
query

Wonderful story and its great to see all the generosity and help he gets from strangers who've come to hear of him.

{"commentId":1613743,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"query254"}
  • 4 votes
Reply#2 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:02 AM EDT
{"commentId":1613769,"authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
Lotto

Yes it's a good front page, very good human interest story where someone is doing the best they can with what they have. I find it refreshing to see a story like this right off the bat. It proves it's a better World when people are giving instead of taking.

{"commentId":1613769,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"nitewingsg1"}
  • 7 votes
Reply#3 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:11 AM EDT
{"commentId":1613890,"authorDomain":"ambolton"}
ambolton

Wow i feel so sorry for this man. Yeah, it may feel good to brake the world's record of the tallest man, but it must feel horrible to be that tall! Never would i want to eight feet and five inches tall. No matter how short I am. I am so suprised by now that he has not have problems with his neck being that he has to been down in his own house. And i wonder how it feels to have to fired from yoour job not because you are not doing a good job but because you do not have any shoes to fit your size, and therefore has to be laid off because you still went to work and performed your job but got frost bitten at the same time. But being that tall has gain him so many benefits as well though. Not only has someone given him a bike so that he can travel to near by stores, a special car is being made just for him. This guy without wanting to has became a superstar! All types of gifts has been given to him such as brand new computers with internet service. I wish i could be as fortunate as him. But then again probably not.With all good things come bad things, and his bad things is being less fortunate to tall to enjoy life and treated like a child, still staying with his mother at the age of thirty seven. This kind of reminds me of the movie Jack, where the boys body is maturing years at a time but he is still a kid. He graduates highschool at the age like ninety. Never did i think it can really be true though... Kind of scary now.

{"commentId":1613890,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"ambolton"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#4 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:45 AM EDT
{"commentId":1613903,"authorDomain":"sifeliz"}
sifeliz

Yes! As a tall man myself it is refreshing to see someone take on the inherent altitudist biases of today's media and culture in general. It's a short man's world, yes, but this heightism will not stand! Give 'em hell Stadnik!!

{"commentId":1613903,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"sifeliz"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#5 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:49 AM EDT
{"commentId":1614157,"authorDomain":"galley-cat"}
galley-cat

Maybe he'll find us here on Newsvine and become friends with us. I hope someone in his area can help build him and his family a bigger house.

{"commentId":1614157,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"galley-cat"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#6 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:58 PM EDT
{"commentId":1614219,"authorDomain":"hemphill"}
hemphill

Poor guy. At 6'8" the world doesn't fit, I can't imagine trying to do anything at 8'5"

{"commentId":1614219,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"hemphill"}
  • 4 votes
Reply#7 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:13 PM EDT
{"commentId":1614585,"authorDomain":"jsullivan"}
jsullivan

I saw this guy on one of those documentary channels last year sometime. I think it was a tumor on his pituitary. Did he have it removed?

{"commentId":1614585,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"jsullivan"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#8 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:33 PM EDT
{"commentId":6266931,"authorDomain":"cjacobscol"}
Colin-1004876

The tumor disappeared by itself apparently.

{"commentId":6266931,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"cjacobscol"}
    #8.1 - Wed Apr 1, 2009 4:02 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":1614623,"authorDomain":"spookybf"}
    Spooky Boyfriend

    He's a really sweet guy but I ask this in a more technical kind of way; is his heart big enough?

    {"commentId":1614623,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"spookybf"}
    • 1 vote
    Reply#9 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:41 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1614727,"authorDomain":"mrdavid"}
    mdavid

    I really think this is very interesting. It takes a good heart and a positive attitude to be able to be different from everyone else. I believe that this man should be able to do things that everyone else does. Just because he is different it doesn't mean that he can't have all the amenities a regular sized person has. The fact that he still sleeps with toy animals shows that he is still connecting with his childlife and has a reocurrence of those years. He needs to go out and experience life as an adult. I think it is a shame that his own town doesn't even have gas. What are the citizens supposed to do , without gas. It is a shame it took this man for them to even consider getting it, but I guess that be why we Americans are paying so much for it. As a veternarian i think he should have a descent amount of money to get the proper clothes and shoes but that just shows how bad the economy must be. I hope that he is able to get the things he needs and wannts especially a mate so he can really experience life. It is amaxing how we learn to help others through love and kindess. This man has become famous and people are more than willing to help and I think that is beautiful. We should all take a lesson from this and bless others in their time of need.

    {"commentId":1614727,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"mrdavid"}
      Reply#10 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:06 PM EDT
      {"commentId":1614773,"authorDomain":"danireland"}
      DanielI

      Jeez! He should come to Chicago. The Bulls could use him!

      {"commentId":1614773,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"danireland"}
        Reply#11 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:19 PM EDT
        {"commentId":1614821,"authorDomain":"apuccine"}
        apuccine

        It's hard to imagine having to live like that; always bending over to move through doorways and not finding clothes or shoes to fit you. And the thing is him being that tall is something he can't fix. Unlike an overweight person who can just lose pounds, he can't just lose inches. Feeling like you don't fit in (literally) anywhere and that anything you do becomes a challenge must be difficult. Luckily for him his newly found fame has brought some good to his life. Now with more clothes that fit him and shoes he might be able to get his job back that he loved so much and since he now has a bike he can get out more than before when he was just sitting at home. Also because of all the recognition he is getting his village is going to get needed supplies like gas. I'm just glad that people all over the world are helping him out and that he is making friends from different parts of the world, which he would probably never have met if it weren't for his height. After, it seems like, almost a lifetime of struggling with his size, I'm glad that now some good has come from it. And after reading this story you realize that there really are good helpful people in this world.

        {"commentId":1614821,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"apuccine"}
          Reply#12 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:30 PM EDT
          {"commentId":1614826,"authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
          Rixar13

          Yeah, We would take him for the Boston Celtics. lol

          {"commentId":1614826,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
          • 1 vote
          Reply#13 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:32 PM EDT
          {"commentId":1614941,"authorDomain":"nasuggsbrigety"}
          nasuggsbrigety

          It's a nice break politics and all it's drama. It good to be reminded that people are capable of remarkable acts of kindness such as giving to someone they have never meet and probably never will.

          {"commentId":1614941,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"nasuggsbrigety"}
          • 2 votes
          Reply#14 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:58 PM EDT
          {"commentId":1614954,"authorDomain":"mastergryne"}
          mastergryne

          I think im fairly tall myself but this must be awful to be that high. I feel for the guy.

          {"commentId":1614954,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"mastergryne"}
            Reply#15 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:02 PM EDT
            {"commentId":1615229,"authorDomain":"lthurmond"}
            L(a)T

            incredible, sounds like he is a great guy

            {"commentId":1615229,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"lthurmond"}
              Reply#16 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:10 PM EDT
              {"commentId":1616675,"authorDomain":"vaidya"}
              Gaurav Vaidya

              Wish him all the best in finding his soulmate: she's probably looking for him too, and he can't be too hard to spot, so hopefully somebody'll post on Newsvine once it happens.

              {"commentId":1616675,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"vaidya"}
              • 2 votes
              Reply#17 - Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:42 AM EDT
              {"commentId":7508147,"authorDomain":"strawberrylil58"}
              LimabeanHead

              My dad told me about this guy, I feel really sorry for him. I mean, being 8'5" must be really uncomfortable! If I were him I would feeel really upset. I would also try to make as many friends as possible.

              {"commentId":7508147,"threadId":"239231","contentId":"1386728","authorDomain":"strawberrylil58"}
                Reply#18 - Sun Jun 7, 2009 12:42 PM EDT
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