Iranian becomes world’s shortest man, says ‘Mobile phone is heavy for me’

The community of Bukan District in northern Iran is home to the shortest man in the world today. 20-year-old Afshin Esmaeil Ghaderzadeh, whose height was recognized by the Guinness World Record in 2022, and at 65 cm, the fourth shortest man recorded in the history of the company specializing in records – others have already died.

According to Guinness, the young man weighs about 6.5 kg and is almost 7 cm shorter than previous record holder Colombian Edward “Niño” Hernández. Because of her height, she wears bespoke clothes and admits that holding her cell phone for long periods of time is a costly exercise.

Esmaeil’s height and weight were confirmed after a series of measurements at one of the Guinness offices in Dubai. It is worth remembering that the company charges fees to ensure the recognition of records.

Using fame for good

The expectation for the Iranian, who needs treatment and constant medication, is that his newly gained status as the world’s shortest man will help him help his family with expenses.

“My dream is to be able to help my family. This global recognition can help me fulfill my dream,” he told Guinness.

Weakness and continued treatment made it impossible for Afşin to attend schools and find a job. His dream was to follow in his father’s footsteps as a builder.

suits and cell phones

As a hobby, the young man spends most of his days watching cartoons and surfing social media.

Afşin said, “In general, mobile phones are heavy for me to use for a long time, but I still manage.”

The Iranian is known by his community as a man with an extroverted and popular personality. Despite this, he explained that he wanted to have experiences that he could not live, especially to drive.

Finding clothes is one of the difficulties faced by the shortest man in the world. The only pieces that Afşin can use are those made for children. However, as a 20-year-old man, he is not very fond of children’s designs, which causes him to wear tailored suits.

Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday says it was a privilege to “meet Afshin and confirm that he is the shortest adult male in the world.”

“From the enthusiasm he displayed during his Dubai visit, he’s more than ready to capitalize on his celebrity status and become a well-known name,” Craig said.