TEHRAN - With nine days to go until the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Morteza Mehrzad is one of the Iranian Para athletes to keep an eye on in the Games.

Mehrzad started his glorious journey in Rio 2016, where he helped Team Melli to win their sixth gold medal. Mehrzad also claimed a gold medal four years later in Tokyo.

Mehrzad is the second tallest living man in the world. Spotted by the sharp eye of coach Hadi Rezaei, he is looking for his ninth gold as he has previously won two Paralympic golds, two World Para Volleyball Championships, three Asian Para Games and one Sitting Volleyball World Cup title.

“We are ready to win a gold medal in Paris, that’s why we will be there. To prepare for the 2024 Paralympic Games, we faced some problems but Iran sitting volleyball team are determined to win their eighth gold medal,” Mehrzad said in an interview with Tehran Times.  

At a staggering 2.46m tall, he is the tallest athlete ever to compete at a Paralympics. He was diagnosed with acromegaly, a condition that stems from excessive growth hormone. Mehrzad normally uses a wheelchair or crutches to get around as a result of a serious pelvis fracture suffered in a bicycle accident as a 15-year-old.

“There are the strong teams in Paris and all the teams know how strong we are. So, they want to show their best against us,” he added.

Defending Paralympic champions Iran will face Brazil, Germany and Ukraine in Pool B for a place in the semifinals in Paris.

Hosts France have joined Tokyo 2020 bronze medalists Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt and Kazakhstan in Pool A.

“Iran sitting volleyball team were supposed to compete in a tournament in the Netherlands in July but were denied visas. The tournament could be very helpful for our team but failed to participate in the event. Iran, however, played powerful team Kazakhstan in Mashhad and I think the friendlies were very helpful for our team,” Mehrzad said.

Brazil have improved rapidly during recent years and Bosnia and Herzegovina are always the favorites to win the title.

“As you know, several countries have improved in sitting volleyball. Bosnia have defeated us twice in the final and Brazil also are a strong team, so we will take nothing for granted when we face them in Paris,” Mehrzad concluded.