At a towering 7 feet 8 1/3 inches, Igor Vovkovinskiy now holds top honors as the tallest man in the United States, according to Guinness World Records officials.
The 27-year-old Minnesota resident - who sports size 24 10-E shoes -- one-upped previous record-holder George Bell, passing the 7-foot-8 deputy sheriff by a third of an inch.
"It feels good to finally have proof that I am the Tallest Man in America," Vovkovinskiy said in a statement. "Everyone is always asking me if I'm certain that I'm the tallest and I was never able to prove it. Now that I have this certificate to hang on my wall, I could finally show it!"
Vovkovinskiy's incredible growth started at an early age. By the time he was 3 years old, he was almost 5 feet tall. At age 7, he was already about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds.
As a child, Vovkovinskiy moved from Ukraine to the United States to seek medical treatment for a pituitary gland tumor believed to be causing his abnormal growth -- but doctors at the Mayo Clinic were reportedly unable to remove the tumor because it was too deeply embedded.
So Vovkovinskiy kept growing. And growing.
He reached his current height at age 21, though he only recently took the title as America's tallest man.
"Igor had been on our radar for a while, so we were eager to measure him and see if he was,
in fact, the Tallest Living Man in America," Guinness World Records adjudicator Danny Girton Jr. said in a statement. "Following stringent Guinness World Record guidelines on measurement, we're pleased to confirm that Igor is now a part of record-breaking history."
The record-breaking measurement was recorded on the set of "The Dr. Oz Show" and will air Monday.
Vovkovinskiy lives in Rochester, Minn., in a house with cathedral-style ceilings and a 9-foot-long bed, according to ABC News.
He's working toward a degree in paralegal studies at the Minnesota School of Business -- where he's undeniably the biggest man on campus.
Outside of the classroom, Vovkovinskiy has emerged as an outspoken -- and outsized -- supporter of President Barack Obama, earning a shout-out from the then-candidate at a campaign stop.
The 27-year-old Minnesota resident - who sports size 24 10-E shoes -- one-upped previous record-holder George Bell, passing the 7-foot-8 deputy sheriff by a third of an inch.
"It feels good to finally have proof that I am the Tallest Man in America," Vovkovinskiy said in a statement. "Everyone is always asking me if I'm certain that I'm the tallest and I was never able to prove it. Now that I have this certificate to hang on my wall, I could finally show it!"
Vovkovinskiy's incredible growth started at an early age. By the time he was 3 years old, he was almost 5 feet tall. At age 7, he was already about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds.
As a child, Vovkovinskiy moved from Ukraine to the United States to seek medical treatment for a pituitary gland tumor believed to be causing his abnormal growth -- but doctors at the Mayo Clinic were reportedly unable to remove the tumor because it was too deeply embedded.
So Vovkovinskiy kept growing. And growing.
He reached his current height at age 21, though he only recently took the title as America's tallest man.
"Igor had been on our radar for a while, so we were eager to measure him and see if he was,
in fact, the Tallest Living Man in America," Guinness World Records adjudicator Danny Girton Jr. said in a statement. "Following stringent Guinness World Record guidelines on measurement, we're pleased to confirm that Igor is now a part of record-breaking history."The record-breaking measurement was recorded on the set of "The Dr. Oz Show" and will air Monday.
Vovkovinskiy lives in Rochester, Minn., in a house with cathedral-style ceilings and a 9-foot-long bed, according to ABC News.
He's working toward a degree in paralegal studies at the Minnesota School of Business -- where he's undeniably the biggest man on campus.
Outside of the classroom, Vovkovinskiy has emerged as an outspoken -- and outsized -- supporter of President Barack Obama, earning a shout-out from the then-candidate at a campaign stop.
World Tallest Man in United Stats of America set Guinness World Record 2010 Video