If confirmed, this would make him the second tallest living person after Sultan Kösen, but taller than previous record holder Bao Xishun who has been measured by the Guinness World Records as 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in).
[2] Leonid Stadnyk, reported to be 2.57 m (8 ft 5 in) tall, briefly held the title, but was disqualified due to his refusal to be measured.
[3] Zhao played basketball until he sustained ligament damage to his left foot in 2001.
[1] His 2009 hospital trip was related to this injury as he was too poor to have it treated sooner.
[2] Though recruited for his height,[1] he now also does magic tricks and plays the saxophone and cucurbit flute.