Rumeysa Gelgi (born 1 January 1997) is a Turkish advocate, researcher and web developer. She is the tallest living woman confirmed by Guinness World Records.[1] She also holds the titles of largest hands (female), longest fingers (female), longest back (female) and previously held the title of tallest living female teenager given by Guinness World Records. She is 215.16 cm (7 ft 0.71 in) tall.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Gelgi lives in the Karabük province of Turkey.[8] Her height is caused by Weaver syndrome, a rare condition which causes rapid growth among other abnormalities.[9] It affects men three times more than women.[10] Because of her condition, she usually uses a wheelchair to move, but can walk for short periods of time with a walker. Due to her condition, she cannot sit in seats under 50–55 cm.[2][3]
Gelgi says that she wishes to use her title to raise awareness of diseases and conditions such as hers.[2][11]
On 28 September 2022, Gelgi was able to fly on an airplane for the first time in her life. Turkish Airlines had to place a stretcher on six chair rows in one of their planes to make her trip from Istanbul, Turkey to San Francisco, California, U.S. a possibility. The event got media attention[12] and was shown in a Guinness World Records documentary titled Rumeysa: Walking Tall.[13]
See also
- Sultan Kösen, the world's tallest living person (also from Turkey)
- Zeng Jinlian, the tallest woman ever to live
References
- ^ "Tallest woman living | Guinness World Records". Guinness World Records Official Website.
- ^ a b c Jack Guy. "World's tallest living woman is a 24-year-old from Turkey". CNN. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
- ^ a b "Meet di tallest woman for di whole wide world". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
- ^ "Guinness Records 2022: At 7 feet and 0.7 inch, Rumeysa Gelgi is the world's tallest woman". The Indian Express. 2021-10-14. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
- ^ "Turkey's Rumeysa Gelgi confirmed as tallest woman living". Guinness World Records. 2021-10-13. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
- ^ "Turkey's Rumeysa Gelgi is awarded the title of tallest teenager (female) in the world". Guinness World Records. 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
- ^ "Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman living, breaks three new records". Guinness World Records. 2022-05-03. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
- ^ "Tallest woman in the world named". The Week UK. 14 October 2021.
- ^ "World's tallest woman says it's OK to stand out". Reuters. 2021-10-14. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
- ^ Phillips, Alexa (13 October 2021). "Rumeysa Gelgi: 'Inspirational' Turkish woman who is over 7ft sets record for tallest female in the world". Sky News.
- ^ "World's tallest woman says it's OK to stand out, hopes to use title to raise awareness about rare diseases". WION. 20 October 2021.
- ^ "Pictured: World's tallest woman takes first ever flight". The Telegraph.
- ^ Newman, Vicki (December 6, 2023). "Rumeysa: Walking Tall - where to watch GWR's tallest woman documentary". Guinness World Records. Retrieved December 18, 2023.