World's second-tallest man sleeps on floor during Paralympics after France fails to find bed for him

Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, the world's second-tallest man and two-time Paralympic champion, has been forced to sleep on the floor as the organizing committee of the Paris Paralympic Games failed to find him a bed.

"In Tokyo [2020], yes, they have made a special bed, but unfortunately not here [at Paris 2024]," the team's head coach, Hadi Rezaeigarkani, told Olympics.com.

"He's going to lie on the floor," he added.

Nonetheless, not having a special bed didn't hinder the 8-foot-1-inch athlete from losing focus on winning.

"It doesn't matter for him whether he will lay on the floor or he's not going to have enough to eat. In any way, he has the mind to become a champion," Razaeigarkani said.

During the Tokyo Games, the 36-year-old Iranian athlete, also known as the Fatal Weapon in his home country, clinched the gold in the sitting volleyball category and had a special bed constructed for him. They also nailed the gold medal in the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

This year, Mehrzad and his teammates are eyeing winning their eighth Paralympic title in sitting volleyball for the nation, following their record of seven winning out of 12 tournaments they have competed at since 1976, including the Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008 events. 

Mehrzad, also known as the tallest Paralympian in history, made his Paralympic debut in 2016.

He has a rare condition called Acromegaly, a hormonal disorder that "develops when your pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone during adulthood."

His right leg is now about six inches shorter than his left leg, as per the Paralympics Games website.