Radhouane Charbib: A history of the world's tallest people

Tunisia’s Radhouane Charbib is the first living subject in our history of the world’s tallest people.

The 56-year-old held the title between 1998 and 2005, with a height of 235.9 cm (7 ft 8.8 in).

He took over the title from tallest man Mohammad Alam Channa and tallest woman Sandy Allen, who at the exact same height, had jointly held it.

Unlike many before him, Radhouane came along to claim the title when one of his predecessors, Sandy, was still alive.

Also unlike many of his predecessors, Radhouane mainly shied away from the spotlight and not as much is known about him.

Early life

Radhouane was born in Ras Jebel, Tunisia, on 27 October 1968.

The son of a bricklayer, he’s one of 11 siblings, who were all of average height.

He was of average height too until the age of 15 when a medical condition affected his pituitary gland.

He shot up by 65 cm in the first two years, reaching 2.17 m (7 ft 1 in) by age 17.

An illustration of Radhouane Charbib

Doctors stepped in to operate on Radhouane and prevent him from continuing to grow.

Radhouane worked in a museum, earning £100 a week, and even before his record was official, he attracted attention from visitors, who would often ask him for his autograph.

He had to have his clothes made to measure, and he wore size 22 shoes.

He went on to marry a woman, whose identity he didn’t reveal publicly, who was just 5 ft 6 in tall.

Taking the title

Radhouane was 30 years old when he officially became the world’s tallest man and person.

And he travelled to London in June 1999 to be crowned by presenters Kate Charman and Ian Wright on TV show Guinness World Records.

Of course, he attracted a lot of press attention during his trip, with journalists keen to learn about life from his perspective.

He confessed to the Daily Mirror at the time that he didn’t like being stared at, and that the attention from strangers as he went about his daily life would make him angry.

His translator, Dr Rached Trimeche, told the newspaper that they started working together after his son visited the museum where Radhouane worked and excitedly rushed back to tell his dad he’d found the world’s tallest man.

Rached helped him apply for the record.

Radhouane said as he was shown a picture from a tall people convention: “I’m taller than all of them. To be in the Guinness Book of Records [as it was titled at the time] for the year 2000 is a real honour.

“It’s an honour for me, for my country Tunisia, and I would like to offer all that in praise of my mother.”

Radhouane was perhaps the most rivalled tallest man of all time, despite his predecessor Alam Channa actually being shorter than him.

There were many claims over the years of men taller than Radhouane, although no one ever officially took the title.

Radhouane appeared on TV shows around the world during his record-holding stint, but not much is known about what he’s been up to since, although it's reported he still lives in Ras Jebel.