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Sultan Kösen, the world’s tallest man standing at 8 feet 3 inches, has spoken candidly about the end of his marriage, sharing heartfelt reflections on the heartbreak he experienced. The 43-year-old Turkish record-holder, who has held the Guinness World Record for 17 years, was married to Merve Dibo, a Syrian woman measuring 5 feet 6 inches, in 2013.
Kösen described his love for Merve as deep and genuine, revealing that finding a life partner and starting a family had been a long-held dream. Their wedding was a grand event attended by 1,500 guests, during which Sultan famously said, “When I looked into her eyes, I knew it was love.” Their union even captured public attention alongside Sultan’s notable meeting with the world’s smallest woman.
Despite early rumors of trouble, Sultan and Merve publicly dismissed speculation about their marriage. At one point, with Merve by his side, Sultan told reporters, “My wife didn’t go anywhere.
I want everyone to see because my wife is here.” Merve herself affirmed her happiness and commitment, stating, “There’s no such thing [as problems].
I wish to stay with him all my life. Yes, I am the happiest woman in the world.”
However, in a recent Channel 4 documentary, Sultan opened up about the couple’s separation in 2021. He described the split as painful and said, “We couldn’t continue.
My wife chose her family. We got divorced.
Our happiness didn’t last long.” Reflecting on his wedding photos, he expressed deep sadness: “It hurt me a lot and I loved her a lot…
When I look at these photos, I get emotional. I’m very sorry.”
The pressures of Sultan’s health challenges, family demands, and media attention took a toll on their relationship. Kösen’s towering stature is due to gigantism and acromegaly caused by a pituitary tumor, conditions that have left him reliant on wheelchairs and crutches since his mid-20s. He endures constant knee pain, has undergone multiple surgeries, and faces significant mobility issues, weighing over 26 stone.
“If I could change something in my life, it would be my knees. I would like to run, walk, and travel more,” he shared.
His brother Hasan noted that Sultan spends much of his free time alone on the computer but could find greater happiness if he were to find love again. Sultan himself joked about his chances, saying, “I’m very ugly.
If I was handsome I would have found someone.”
Despite the challenges, Sultan remains hopeful about the future. Finding a new partner would, he says, make him “the happiest man in the world,” though he is uncertain if that day will come.