Turkey’s Rumeysa Gelgi became the toast of her country as she became the world’s tallest living woman. Her height is 7 feet and 0.7 inches (215.16 cm).
This is the second time when Gelgi is breaking the world record. Earlier in 2014 when she was 18, she was declared as the tallest living female teenager by Guinness World Records.
The reason for Gelgi's extraordinary height is because of a very rare disease called Weaver Syndrome – a rare genetic mutation — which accelerates growth. The Syndrome affects the person in other ways and leads to abnormalities like skeletal maturation. Though Gelgi mostly uses a wheelchair, she can walk short distances and for short periods by using a walker.
Discussing her case in a video which was released by Guinness World Records, Gelgi said as far she is aware, hers is the first case of Weaver Syndrome in Turkey. “I was born with some serious physical diseases, such as scoliosis. And also I am a physically disabled person, who is mostly wheelchair-bound and I can ask only with my walker,” she said in the video.
As a child Gelgi was much bullied but was fortunate that she received support from her family in abundance. Even though people were inquisitive about her when they passed by her, they were kind to her.
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Her video has garnered views more than three lakh in number and people have feted and praised her.
Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief of the Guinness World Records was quoted in USA Today as saying: "Her indomitable spirit and pride at standing out from the crowd is an inspiration. The category of tallest living woman is not one that changes hands very often, so I'm excited to share this news with the world."
It was also mentioned in the report that Gelgi spreads awareness and understanding about the Weaver Syndrome.
