2ft 1in Iranian, 20, is crowned world's shortest man

2ft 1in Iranian, 20 – who struggles to use a mobile phone because they are TOO HEAVY for him – is crowned world’s shortest man… and says he hopes newfound fame will help him look after his parents

• Afshin Esmaeil Ghaderzadeh, 20, from northern Iran, recognised by Guinness World Records as the shortest man alive, with a height of 2ft 1 inch (65.24cm) 
• Afshin struggles to use mobile phone because they are too heavy for him to hold
• He hopes his newfound fame will help him look after his parents, who have paid for their son’s treatment and medication

A 20-year-old Iranian who measures just over 2ft tall has been crowned as the world’s shortest man. 

Afshin Esmaeil Ghaderzadeh, from a remote village in Bukan County, northern Iran, has now been recognised by the Guinness World Records as the shortest man alive, with a height of 2ft 1 inch (65.24cm).

Afshin, who struggles to use a mobile phone because they are too heavy for him to hold, has been unable to attend school due to how physically weak he is. 

But Afshin said he hopes his newfound fame as the world’s shortest man will help him look after his parents, who have sometimes struggled to earn enough money for their son’s living expenses, treatment and medication.

Afshin Esmaeil Ghaderzadeh, from a remote village in Bukan County, northern Iran, has now been recognised by the Guinness World Records as the shortest man alive, with a height of 2ft 1 inch (65.24cm)

Afshin said he hopes his newfound fame as the world’s shortest man will help him look after his parents (pictured together), who have sometimes struggled to earn enough money for their son’s living expenses, treatment and medication

Afshin (pictured with his Guinness World Record award), who struggles to use a mobile phone because they are too heavy for him to hold, has been unable to attend school due to how physically weak he is

‘My dream is to be able to help my parents, Afshin said. ‘This global recognition might help me achieve my dream.’ 

Afshin’s short stature means that he is unable to follow in the footsteps of his father, Esmaeil Ghaderzadeh, as a construction worker. In fact, Afshin, who weighs just 6.5 kg, has been unable to find any suitable jobs in his local village.

Afshin, who struggles with illiteracy and can never go his village alone without his parents, said he has been able to connect with the wider world through a phone that his friend sent him – but he does find it difficult to use.

‘Phones in general are heavy to use for a long time, yet I still manage,’ said Afshin. ‘I know who the Tallest man living in the world is. I might fit in the palms of his hands.’

Afshin, who has just learned how to write his name, had to stop attending school because of how physically weak he was as a child. 

‘Continuing treatment and my son’s physical weakness are the main reasons why he stopped studying, otherwise he has no mental problems,’ Afshin’s father said.

Afshin said he struggles to find clothes that fit him. He can only fit into clothing that a three-year-old child would fit into, but the designs do not usually work for his age anymore. 

Afshin is pictured with his parents after he was awarded the Guinness World Record for being the world’s shortest man

Afshin’s short stature means that he is unable to follow in the footsteps of his father, Esmaeil Ghaderzadeh, as a construction worker. In fact, Afshin, who weighs just 6.5 kg, has been unable to find any suitable jobs in his local village

Afshin Esmaeil Ghaderzadeh, from a remote village in Bukan County, northern Iran, has now been recognised by the Guinness World Records as the shortest man alive, with a height of 2ft 1 inch (65.24cm)

Afshin said after receiving the Guinness World Record in Dubai, he felt like it was ‘a dream’. 

‘Just thinking about being part of the Guinness World Records family is like a dream. I struggle to believe it sometimes. It is like you wake up the next day and the entire world now knows who you are. That’s magical,’ said Afshin.

‘I like the attention I get from people. It makes me feel special,’ he added. 

Afshin has now knocked Edward Niño Hernandez off the top spot for the record of world’s shortest man. 

Hernandez, 36, from Bogotá, Colombia, measures just 2ft 4 inches tall (72.1 cm), but Afshin is three inches shorter.

Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief at Guinness World Records, said: ‘It’s been a privilege to meet with Afshin and his family, and to confirm him as the new world’s shortest living adult man. 

‘This is one of those fundamental human-body superlatives, and receiving this official confirmation is a potentially life-changing moment in this charming young man’s life.’

Glenday added: ‘Judging by the enthusiasm he’s shown during his visit to Dubai, he’s more than ready to enjoy his new-found celebrity status and become a household name. 

‘He’s already ticked one item off his bucket list: to visit the top of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.’

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