Leonid Stadnyk
Encyclopedia
Leonid Stepanovich Stadnyk , (born 1971 in Zhytomyr Oblast
, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR
) is a Ukrainian man renowned for his stature. He was formerly listed as the world's tallest living man according to Guinness World Records
. On August 20, 2008, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, Craig Glenday, announced that the title of world's tallest man had been returned to China's Bao Xishun after Stadnyk refused to be measured under the Guinness standard guidelines which require several measurements throughout the course of 24 hours under the watchful eye of a Guinness Book representative. Guinness would then average the height readings to come up with a final official measured height.
On August 8, 2007, Guinness book's spokeswoman Amarilis Espinoza stated that in the 2008 edition of the record book, Mr Stadnyk appeared to be taller than Bao Xishun, a native of Inner Mongolia
in China who stands 2.36 m (7.7 ft). Although he held the title for a few months, Stadnyk refused to be measured and was consequently denied the GWR recognition. Stadnyk refused to be measured because he felt that his gift was from God and is not something that needs to be recorded in a book. Others have questioned the legitimacy of his record, noting that Stadnyk has never been officially measured by Guinness World Records, only by the "Ukrainian Book of Records" that says that he measures 2.54 metre, and that the doctor originally credited by Guinness with confirming Stadnyk's height has denied ever measuring him.
Stadnyk's excessive growth began after brain surgery when he was 12 years old. He developed a pituitary gland
tumor which caused the gland to secrete large amounts of growth hormone
, resulting in what doctors describe as acromegalic
gigantism
. Twenty years after the surgery, the doctors have discovered the tumour had mysteriously disappeared and he is currently healthy. A Pravda
news report in Spring 2006 reported that Stadnyk grew 2 cm (0.78740157480315 in) in the previous year, not accounting the time between the original Spring 2004 report and Spring 2005. According to Pravda, his health is slowly failing in that he needs to hold on to limbs of trees and the side of his house to walk about. His recorded weight is 200 kg (440 lb).
He is a certified veterinarian
and veterinary surgeon
and lives with his mother in the village of Podolyantsi, Ukraine.
Zhytomyr Oblast
Zhytomyr Oblast is an oblast of northern Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Zhytomyr.-History:The oblast was created as part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic on September 22, 1937....
, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
) is a Ukrainian man renowned for his stature. He was formerly listed as the world's tallest living man according to Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
. On August 20, 2008, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, Craig Glenday, announced that the title of world's tallest man had been returned to China's Bao Xishun after Stadnyk refused to be measured under the Guinness standard guidelines which require several measurements throughout the course of 24 hours under the watchful eye of a Guinness Book representative. Guinness would then average the height readings to come up with a final official measured height.
On August 8, 2007, Guinness book's spokeswoman Amarilis Espinoza stated that in the 2008 edition of the record book, Mr Stadnyk appeared to be taller than Bao Xishun, a native of Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
in China who stands 2.36 m (7.7 ft). Although he held the title for a few months, Stadnyk refused to be measured and was consequently denied the GWR recognition. Stadnyk refused to be measured because he felt that his gift was from God and is not something that needs to be recorded in a book. Others have questioned the legitimacy of his record, noting that Stadnyk has never been officially measured by Guinness World Records, only by the "Ukrainian Book of Records" that says that he measures 2.54 metre, and that the doctor originally credited by Guinness with confirming Stadnyk's height has denied ever measuring him.
Stadnyk's excessive growth began after brain surgery when he was 12 years old. He developed a pituitary gland
Pituitary gland
In vertebrate anatomy the pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea and weighing 0.5 g , in humans. It is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, and rests in a small, bony cavity covered by a dural fold...
tumor which caused the gland to secrete large amounts of growth hormone
Growth hormone
Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...
, resulting in what doctors describe as acromegalic
Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a syndrome that results when the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone after epiphyseal plate closure at puberty...
gigantism
Gigantism
Gigantism, also known as giantism , is a condition characterized by excessive growth and height significantly above average...
. Twenty years after the surgery, the doctors have discovered the tumour had mysteriously disappeared and he is currently healthy. A Pravda
Pravda
Pravda was a leading newspaper of the Soviet Union and an official organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party between 1912 and 1991....
news report in Spring 2006 reported that Stadnyk grew 2 cm (0.78740157480315 in) in the previous year, not accounting the time between the original Spring 2004 report and Spring 2005. According to Pravda, his health is slowly failing in that he needs to hold on to limbs of trees and the side of his house to walk about. His recorded weight is 200 kg (440 lb).
He is a certified veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
and veterinary surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
and lives with his mother in the village of Podolyantsi, Ukraine.
External links
- The Tallest Man: Leonid Stadnyk
- PHOTO from life of giant
- AP article
- San Clemente doctor gets to know giant, The Orange County Register
- Photo at Ukrainian country side, Photos in UemA
- Guinness official record of Leonid Stadnyk's height, based on a measurement by the Ukrainian Book of Records.
- Daily Mail article on Leonid Stadnyk