One stands as tall as a red British phone booth. The other is the height of six stacked cans of baked beans.
On Thursday, for the first time, the man with the tallest recorded height in the world and the shortest man in the world met at an event in London, where they posed for photos and stretched for an awkward handshake.
The occasion was the 10th annual Guinness World Records Day, which celebrates record-setting achievements around the globe. The Guinness folks flew the two men, Sultan Kosen of Turkey and Chandra Bahadur Dangi of Nepal, to London for the unique photo op.
Kosen, 31, is a part-time farmer who measures 8 feet, 3 inches tall and can reach a basketball hoop without jumping. He became the world's tallest living man in 2009, overtaking China's Xi Shun, who stood a mere 7 feet 9 inches.
Chandra Bahadur Dangi, at 21½ inches the shortest adult ever verified by Guinness World Records, poses Thursday in London with the world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen, who stands 8 feet 3 inches tall.
Photos: Photos: Tallest man meets shortest man
Kosen told reporters, "Even though he is short and I am tall, we have had similar struggles throughout our lives."
The two men arrived at the event in black London taxis and enjoyed tea and cake overlooking Houses of Parliament and the River Thames.
Kosen's growth resulted from a tumor affecting his pituitary gland. He must use a cane or crutches to walk. Despite his age, Dangi claims he has never taken any kind of medication or been examined by a doctor.
Dangi said of the event, "It makes me extremely proud to represent Nepal all around the world. I'm extremely humbled by the support I receive."
Chandra Bahadur Dangi, at 21½ inches the shortest adult ever verified by Guinness World Records, poses Thursday in London with the world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen, who stands 8 feet 3 inches tall.
Dangi, 74, is a weaver in a remote village of Nepal. He weighs just 32 pounds.
The two came together at a London event celebrating the 10th annual Guinness World Records Day. It marked the first time the world's tallest and shortest men had ever met.
Kosen told reporters, "Even though he is short and I am tall, we have had similar struggles throughout our lives."
The two men arrived at the event in black London taxis and enjoyed tea and cake overlooking Houses of Parliament and the River Thames.
Kosen's growth resulted from a tumor affecting his pituitary gland. He must use a cane or crutches to walk. Despite his age, Dangi claims he has never taken any kind of medication or been examined by a doctor.
Dangi said of the event, "It makes me extremely proud to represent Nepal all around the world. I'm extremely humbled by the support I receive."
Chandra Bahadur Dangi, at 21½ inches the shortest adult ever verified by Guinness World Records, poses Thursday in London with the world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen, who stands 8 feet 3 inches tall.
Dangi, 74, is a weaver in a remote village of Nepal. He weighs just 32 pounds.
The two came together at a London event celebrating the 10th annual Guinness World Records Day. It marked the first time the world's tallest and shortest men had ever met.
Kosen told reporters, "Even though he is short and I am tall, we have had similar struggles throughout our lives."
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Dangi, 74, is just 21½ inches tall and is the shortest adult human ever verified by Guinness World Records. A weaver who also helps look after buffaloes and cows in his remote mountain village of Reemkholi, he weighs just 32 pounds.
"To be able to finally meet Chandra after all this time is amazing," Kosen said at the event. "Even though he is short and I am tall, we have had similar struggles throughout our lives, and when I look into Chandra's eyes, I can see he's a good man."
Kosen also holds the record for largest hands on a living person. His measure 11.2 inches from the wrist to the tip of his middle finger.
Thousands of people took part in Guinness World Records events around the world Thursday, with records tumbling in Australia, France, Dubai, China, Germany, Japan, the UK and the United States. In Shanghai, 388 people went for a record for the largest communal breakfast in bed.