The semi-final sitting volleyball match between Iran and Egypt saw a remarkable win for the Iranians, courtesy largely of Morteza Mehrzad’s powerful spike, which also serves as a constant reminder of his towering height. Mehrzad, at 8ft 1in, is the second tallest man in the world.
Mehrzad, a 36-year-old, uniquely tall man due to gigantism, is an avid sitting volleyball player. His height discrepancies are partly the result of a biking accident during his adolescent years, which left him wheelchair bound and stunted the growth of his right leg. Due to his towering height, he has to manoeuvre his head beneath the volleyball net during serves.
As the soft-spoken Mehrzad arrived at the Paralympic village in Paris, certain logistical issues arose due to his height, such as finding a suitable bed. Despite being the centre of frequent attention, Mehrzad is known to be reserved and rarely seen smiling during gameplay, which could make you feel sympathetic towards him.
His coach Hadi Rezaei, on the other hand, views working with Mehrzad as an enriching experience, stating it as a significant part of his life. Mehrzad is now not just the talk of Iran but has also caught the attention of global spectators towards sitting volleyball, especially in anticipation of the upcoming final against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Despite his quiet exterior, Mehrzad’s love for his sport is undeniable. His commanding performance in the fourth set of the 3-1 win was punctuated by his enthusiasm as he celebrated each point with exuberant fist pumps.
Rezaei, who has played and won gold three times in Seoul, Barcelona and Atlanta, now partakes in his seventh Paralympic Games as the Iranian sitting volleyball team coach. His journey so far has been illustrious with four golds to his credit.
According to the myth, Rezaei discovered Mehrzad after the latter’s appearance on Iranian television, where his exceptional height was brought to light. Mehrzad was persuaded by Rezaei to try his hand at sitting volleyball, a life-altering decision, considering Mehrzad was living a withdrawn life at the time.
Rezaei claims to have played a part in reducing Mehrzad’s societal isolation. As a result of Rezaei’s mentoring, Mehrzad honed his abilities and became a key player in achieving Iran’s repeated victories.
Mehrzad’s role as an exterior attacker entails completing the complex, quick sequences of passes that the sport demands, and his height provides him with an advantage. Since joining the Iranian team for the Rio Games, he has secured two gold medals and stands a chance to earn a third one.
To minimise the risk of injuries, Rezaei used a rotation strategy during the semifinals, bringing Mehrzad in and out of the game. However, it is clear that Iran’s team has more to it than one star player and is not lacking in other tall athletes.
Now, Iran is pitted against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a team they triumphed over at the world championships two years earlier. Rezaei expressed his excitement about the upcoming match and thrust an emphasis on the abilities and potential the handicapped athletes possess.
There seemed to have been challenges with Mehrzad’s accommodation, particularly his bed. In Tokyo, a mattress was custom-made to accommodate his height. However, in Paris, the IPC suggested they would attach extensions to the standard athlete’s bed, a measure that proved insufficient, leading to Mehrzad having to sleep on the floor.
Despite the initial concern, it seems the issue has been resolved. After the semi-finals, Rezaei confirmed that his star player now had a proper bed. “The problem has been solved,” he stated.