“SUPER SPIKE!” the PA announcer bellows within the electrical birthday party surrounding of the North Enviornment at the outskirts of Paris.
Palms outstretched large, Morteza Mehrzad, sitting at the flooring in his crimson manage and cloudy trousers, we could out a roar to praise but any other punishing fritter away which right away ends the rally.
It’s only probably the most 27 issues, probably the most amassed via anybody participant, that helped Iran win a record-extending 8th Sitting Volleyball Paralympic identify then beating Bosnia and Herzegovina within the ultimate via 3 units to at least one (22-25, 30-28, 25-16, 25-14). When Mehrzad in short stood to shake fingers along with his opponent on the finish of the sport, the online got here as much as his midriff. His team-mates got here up stage along with his sternum.
Mehrzad slams house any other winner (Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs)
Status at 8ft 1in (2m 46cm) — higher than maximum doorways, longer than maximum beds — the 36-year-old is the second one tallest guy on this planet.
Born with gigantism, his impairment has posed some issues. Mehrzad have been slumbering at the flooring within the Paralympic village. The Iran group asked a longer mattress sooner than the Video games however the two extensions equipped to an ordinary athlete’s mattress have been inadequate. A 3rd extension used to be made and his schoolmaster Hadi Rezaeigarkani and Paris 2024 organisers showed this moment that the problem have been resolved and Mehrzad used to be slumbering with ease within the village.
Certainly it used to be Rezaeigarkani — who has gained 8 gold medals from his 10 Paralympic video games, first as a schoolmaster and later as a participant — who noticed Mehrzad on an Iranian tv programme that includes nation with bodily abnormalities. The schoolmaster contacted Merhzad — who makes use of a wheelchair having injured his pelvis in a motorbike strike on the while of 16, preventing the expansion of his proper leg — and were given him into the game.
Mehrzad infrequently went out in community, Rezaeigarkani has mentioned in earlier interviews, as a result of his peak and facial options — the last brought about via acromegaly, a hormonal sickness — attracted extraordinary appears.
“I was a depressed guy and my life changed completely with volleyball,” Mehrzad advised Esportivo. Rezaeigarkani believes the game gave him hope.
Mehrzad used to be a key participant in Iran’s gold medal pursuit (Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs)
Having stood out in community and gained unfavourable consideration, Mehrzad is now head and shoulders above the remainder courtesy of his wearing prowess.
It seems that, there are important benefits to having any such towering participant in your group. When sitting, Mehrzad has a most achieve of 6ft 4in (1.96m). His hand stretches 81cm above the peak of the online, permitting him to generate large energy as he kills off issues with successful pictures. As an outdoor hitter, this is his activity.
Mehrzad has to construct positive his frame is in the suitable place, then again, and any such immense body calls for agile motion. Sweat dripping indisposed his face, he pushes his decrease frame at the flooring, legs prolonged, up and indisposed the courtroom rapidly, studying the short interchange of play games.
Mehrzad’s achieve stretches 81cm above the peak of the online (Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs)
Actually, in addition to his menacing spikes, what stood out maximum on Friday night time is that Mehrzad, on the converting of ends or time-outs, at all times moved via shuffling and infrequently were given to his ft. “Morteza is the best spiker and one of the most important players in the world,” mentioned his absolute best buddy and the general’s quickest server (73km/h), Meisam Ali Pour, talking by the use of a translator then the sport. “He knows what to do, but he can’t do it by himself.”
Silver medallist Stevan Crnobrnja of Bosnia considered Mehrzad as simply any other one among Iran’s admirable gamers. They approved they might no longer do a lot about his peak benefit, however excited by neutralising others who have been a very powerful in surroundings him up. If one among his team-mates does no longer prepared or move the ball, Mehrzad is helpless.
Ali Pour, who, going into the general, had contributed extra issues (39) than Mehrzad (28), emphasized the desire for teamwork. “If all the best players in the world play together, they will not be able to beat Iran,” he mentioned.
Mehrzad towers above his team-mates (Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs)
Expressive and animated at the courtroom, off the courtroom, Mehrzad, who used to be no longer to be had for interview, is shy, reserved and does no longer like consideration.
His team-mates and schoolmaster see him as only one member of an excessively united crew. “My team has 12 stars, Morteza is one of them,” mentioned schoolmaster Rezaeigarkani. “We did not have Morteza before and we will not (always) have him in the future.”
When requested what the confidential to Iran’s good fortune is, Rezaeigarkan answered: “Work, work, work.”
(Supremacy photograph: Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs)
