Paris 2024 Paralympic Games: Who is this 2.46m Iranian who is the best sitting volleyball player in the world ?

Morteza Mehrzad (le numéro 2 sur la photo) mesure 2,46 mètres et est le meilleur joueur du monde de volley assis. dpa – Marcus Brandt

Morteza Mehrzad mesure 2,46 mètres. Ce qui en fait le plus grand sportif paralympique de l’histoire. L’Iranien est déjà double champion paralympique en titre.

A major star of the Paralympic Games since the introduction of sitting volleyball in 1980, Iran totally reigns over the discipline. It's simple: the team led by the iconic coach Hadi Rezaei has won a medal at every edition. In its 9 participations, Iran has won the Paralympic champion title seven times and the silver medal twice.

For this edition of Paris 2024, all the teams fear Iran, which remains on two gold medals in Tokyo and Rio. The big threat is obviously Morteza Mehrzad who, thanks to his exceptional height, is considered the best sitting volleyball player in the world.

He suffers from acromegaly

The Iranian giant is recognized by his peers as evidenced by his three “golden balls” (rewarding the best player in the world) obtained in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Coach Hadi Rezaei has included Mehrzad in the team since 2013. Since then, Iran has won two Paralympic titles and a world championship in 2018 (Iran has won 8 in total).

Morteza Mehrzad is a major asset to his team thanks to his colossal size. The 36-year-old is also the second tallest living man in the world at 2.46 meters. He suffers from acromegaly, a disease characterized by exaggerated growth of the face and extremities and by very great height.

It is due to an excessive secretion of growth hormone. Mehrzad was also the victim of an accident at the age of 15 which slowed the growth of his right leg, which is now 15 centimetres shorter than his left leg.

A size advantage

The Iranian team is making the most of the physical advantages of its player who, even when sitting, can hit the ball almost 2 metres from the ground. In sitting volleyball, the net is set at 1m15 which allows Mehrzad to spike the ball and block at the net without much difficulty.

The sitting volleyball events at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will begin on Thursday, August 29. The men's final will take place on Friday, September 6 from 7:30 p.m.