As the saying goes, "Records are meant to be broken". That's exactly what happened with the Guinness World Records as well, as Afshin Esmael Ghaderzadeh was named the World's Shortest Man (living).
The 20-year-old stands at 65.24 cm (2 ft 1.6 inches). He is almost 7 cm (2.7 inches) shorter than the previous World's Shortest Man, Edward Hernandez (Columbia). He also became the fourth shortest man to be ever verified by the Guinness World Records.
Afshin was flown to the Dubai office where three measurements were taken over 24 hours.
WHO IS AFSHIN GHADERZADEH?
Afshin was born in a small village in Bukan County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran, on 13 July 2002. He was born with a body weight of only 700 grams (1.5 pounds). He currently weighs around 6.5 kg (14.3 pounds).
Afshin comes from a modest background. He has always struggled with poverty, lack of education, and poor physical health. Afshin's father Esmael Ghaderzadeh is a construction worker. He finds it difficult to make ends meet and finance the treatment and medications of Afshin.
Afshin had to stop studying as well due to his poor physical health. Due to his short stature and lack of opportunities, he finds it difficult to get a job.
However, now that he's in the record books. He believes that global recognition would help him achieve his dream of providing a better future for his parents.
Despite all the difficulties, Afshin is described as someone with a kind personality. He loves watching cartoons with Tom and Jerry as one of his favorites. He loves watching football as well. He's an avid supporter of a local club called Esteghlal Football Club in Iran. Afshin is a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo. He also loves to dance to Iranian Kurdish music.
There hasn't been an official diagnosis of the medical condition that has affected his height. However, according to Craig Gendlay, Editor-in-Chief of Guinness World Records, it is a form of Primordial Dwarfism. It is a class of disorders where growth delay occurs at the earlier stages of development.
Chandra Bahadur Dangi of Nepal is recorded as the shortest man in the world so far. He was 54.6 cm tall, and made it into the Guinness World Records in February 2012. He passed away in September 2015 at the age of 76.
Jyoti Amge from India holds the Guinness World Record of the World's Shortest Woman. She stands at 62.8 centimeters.
Sultan Kosen from Turkey holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest living male at 8 ft 2.82 inches (251 cm).