The tallest Paralympian in Rio Morteza Mehrzad says that his best memory of his sporting career comes from the 2016 Paralympic Games, where Iran sitting volleyball team won the title for the sixth time.
The tallest Paralympian in Rio Morteza Mehrzad says that his best memory of his sporting career comes from the 2016 Paralympic Games, where Iran sitting volleyball team won the title for the sixth time.
Mehrzad, tallest ever Paralympian, helped Iran defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 to win the gold medal.
“The Paralympic Games are held every four years and is the greatest competition for disabled persons. I took part in the Games for the first time and we could win a gold medal in the event,” Mehrzad told Paralympic.ir.
“I was a member of the team. It doesn’t matter who plays, what is important is to win the title. It was my best memory to win the title,” he said.
As a 15-year-old, Mehrzad suffered a serious pelvis fracture in a bicycle accident. The injury caused his right leg to stop growing, and it is now six inches shorter than his left leg, making it difficult for him to walk.
Mehrzad, who started sitting volleyball five years ago, uses wheelchair or crutches to get around at the moment.
Accidentally, he was invited to the sitting volleyball national team after participated in a state-run TV program and the Iranian Paralympics officials found out the giant player could help the team in the upcoming matches.
“I was alone. As soon as I started doing sport, my life changed. Now, many people know me after watching our matches in the Paralympic Games,” Mehrzad added.
“We won two titles in the previous Persian Year. First, we finished in first place in the intercontinental competition and then we came first in the Paralympic Games,” he stated.
“My greatest goal is to win another gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. Iran could also win a gold medal in the 2018 Asian para Games in Indonesia,” he concluded.