Morteza Mehrzadselakjani

Started: He began playing sitting volleyball at age 22 at a club in Chalus, Islamic Republic of Iran. (Athlete, 22 Aug 2021) Reason: Iranian national coach Hadi Rezaeigarkani saw him on a television show that featured people with a physical impairment and unusual talents. Rezaeigarkani contacted the network to get in touch with Mehrzadselakjani, and persuaded him to take up the sport. "Due to my impairment I was very depressed. I felt like I was in prison and was afraid to go outside due to my appearance. Volleyball changed my life." (Esportistico Facebook page, 21 Feb 2020; nytimes.com, 11 Sep 2016) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (farsnews.ir, 02 Nov 2022) Awards: He was named Best Spiker at the 2022 World Championships in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (World ParaVolley Facebook page, 12 Nov 2022) In 2022 he received the Outstanding Achievement award from World ParaVolley. (ParaVolley Asia Oceania Facebook page, 26 Jul 2022) He was named both Most Valuable Player [MVP] and Best Spiker at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (World ParaVolley Facebook page, 06 Sep 2021) He was named the Best Spiker at the 2016 Intercontinental Cup in Anji, People's Republic of China. (worldparavolley.org, 2016) Additional Info: TALLEST PARALYMPIAN Standing at a height of 246cm, he became the tallest athlete to have competed at the Paralympic Games in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. He is also the tallest known living man from the Islamic Republic of Iran. "I'm just taller than the other members of the team, but all of the team is very important, they each play their role in the best way. I also try to play in the best way. Yes, my physical situation is very important for sitting volleyball. I'm just using my potential." (cnn.com, 04 Sep 2021; World ParaVolley Facebook page, 24 Aug 2021; paralympic.org, 20 Jul 2021; independent.co.uk, 15 Sep 2016; nytimes.com, 11 Sep 2016; rio2016.com, 11 Sep 2016)