At an imposing 7 feet, rugby player Richard Metcalfe is an average of six inches taller than his competition and was the tallest player in international rugby. His enormous height and intimidating style of play kept the other players on the pitch on their toes.
The Scottish native achieved superstar status, won 13 Scotland caps, and played for prestigious clubs, including the Newcastle Falcons and the Northampton Saints. Unfortunately, Metcalfe’s burgeoning career was cut short due to a knee injury.
Blanka Vlasic – 6’4″
At 6ft 4in, Blanka Vlasic has used her height to become a highly successful high jump champion. But she doesn’t just count on lucky genes, Vlasic is also known for her dedication, strong work ethic and excellent coach, a former athlete who just happens to be her father.
Over the course of her career, Vlasic has made her home country of Croatia proud with 16 prestigious medals, including 12 gold, three silver, and one bronze. Vlasic had a career setback in 2005 and couldn’t compete in the Athens Olympics due to a thyroid condition but came back strong, and these days, she is preparing for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings – 6’3″
Kerri Walsh Jennings and her longtime team partner Misty May Treanor were one of the best beach volleyball teams in the history of the sport. This dynamic duo took home the gold in the Athens, Beijing, and London Summer Olympics. Standing at an impressive height of 6ft 3in, Jennings is not only one the tallest volleyball players in the world but also one of the best.
She has worked incredibly hard for decades, and her main goal is to bring more recognition to beach volleyball. These days, Jennings is training for the 2020 Olympics, where she is sure she will bring home the gold.
Aaron Sandilands – 6’11”
Australian football player Aaron Sandilands is a mountain of man at almost 7 feet. At one time, he was the AFL’s (Australian Football League) tallest and heaviest player, and it’s not hard to imagine what kind of damage a tackle from this guy could inflict.
But Sandilands has more than just his size going for him, with an illustrious athletic career of over 250 games. He has won four All-Australian awards, two Best Clubmen awards, and two Doig Medals as the Fremantle Football Club’s best and fairest player. He is still going strong and is the club’s first player over the age of 35.
Aleksey Kazakov – 7’2″
Being tall is an advantage in many sports, but in Volleyball, it can be a real game-changer. At 7ft 2 in, Russian volleyball player Aleksey Kazakov used his immense frame and natural talent to become a star. At the height of his professional career, Kazakov towered above the rest and spiked his way into the Olympic team.
He won the bronze medal in the 2000 Olympics and moved up to Silver in 2004. He also shined at the 2001 European Championships in Ostrava, where he received the bronze medal, making Russia proud.