Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Turkey
  • Istanbul
  • Education
  • Investigations
  • Minorities
  • Expat Corner
  • Diaspora

Turkish woman, world's tallest, wants to tour the world

by Anadolu Agency

KARABÜK Nov 15, 2021 - 3:24 pm GMT+3
Rümeysa Gelgi, the world's tallest woman, is pushed in her wheelchair by her mother, in Karabük, northern Turkey, Nov. 15, 2021. (AA PHOTO)
Rümeysa Gelgi, the world's tallest woman, is pushed in her wheelchair by her mother, in Karabük, northern Turkey, Nov. 15, 2021. (AA PHOTO)
by Anadolu Agency Nov 15, 2021 3:24 pm
RECOMMENDED
Everyone should experience an authentic Turkish bath at least once in their lifetime. (Shutterstock Photo)

Turkish hamam etiquette: What to know before you go 

CUSTOMS&TRADITIONS

Rümeysa Gelgi is the world's tallest woman, but this title brings numerous health problems with it. Confined to a wheelchair and walker, the 24-year-old Turkish woman dreams of traveling the world and learning about diverse cultures.

Last month, Guinness World Records named Gelgi the world's tallest living woman, standing at 215.16 centimeters (7.07 feet). She first received the title of tallest teen living (female) in 2014, when she was 18 years old.

She has always traveled by road and has never taken a flight, Gelgi told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Monday, adding that she has never been abroad because of her condition – which requires her to use a wheelchair most of the time but allows her to walk for a short period.

She said seeing different countries and cultures is one of her strongest desires and that she had received invitations from Poland and France when she first broke the record. "Unfortunately, I could not go," Gelgi said. "This time, I received an invitation from Russia, of course, I would like to this time."

She needs to rest lying down even though she can sit for two hours straight, she informed, explaining that she cannot sit through a plane journey. "There should be someplace for me to lie down. This is where my physical characteristics play a part in my day-to-day life. I can't sit in a seat that is lower than 50-55 centimeters because of my knee joint problem," she said.

"I can't even lie down on reclining seats. The only way for me to travel is on a stretcher, but that's a really exhausting procedure," Gelgi remarked.

Underlining that her biggest supporter is her family, Gelgi said: "I have physical challenges, and I am in need of support all the time.”

"I don’t have a sickness. Even though Weaver syndrome is defined as a disease ... I am not a sick person,” she argued, adding that the syndrome's drawbacks are what she is concerned about. "I've been coping with syndrome-related problems since I was born, and I've undergone therapies and surgeries with no complications," she said, adding: "My major issue is lack of physical movement."

"I want ramps built at a level where wheelchair users can easily utilize them, and I don't want cars parked in front of them. It would also be better if disabled parking places were not occupied by healthy people,” she proposed.

Gelgi was born in Turkey, weighing over 5 kilograms (about 11 pounds) and standing at 59 centimeters. Two months after her birth, she was diagnosed with a hole in her heart, necessitating a heart operation. At the age of 6, she stood 1.76 meters (about 5.77 feet) tall and weighed 65 kilograms (approximately 143 pounds). She had grown to 2.05 meters in height by her 11th birthday.

Gelgi has Weaver syndrome, a disorder characterized by skeletal abnormalities and developmental delay. The bones of affected individuals grow and develop more quickly than usual before and after birth.

RECOMMENDED
Everyone should experience an authentic Turkish bath at least once in their lifetime. (Shutterstock Photo)

Turkish hamam etiquette: What to know before you go 

CUSTOMS&TRADITIONS
  • shortlink copied
  • RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    worlds tallest woman rümeysa gelgİ guinness world records
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    For the European Union, Cyprus is an instrument to hold Türkiye politically hostage. (Erhan Yalvaç Illustration)

    How to create a united state in Cyprus?

    CYPRUS-ISSUE
    Türkiye's main battle tank Altay is seen in this file photo, Nov. 15, 2012. (Photo by Mesut Er)

    Türkiye inks $200M deal with S.Korean firm for parts of MBT Altay

    altay-tank

    Religion not included in NATO deal with Türkiye: Swedish FM

    TÜRKIYE-SWEDEN-RELATIONS

    No obstacles in way of re-candidacy: President Erdoğan

    2023-ELECTIONS
    No Image
    Erupting volcanoes, snow and underwater Santas: Weekly top photos
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021