Korean kickboxer, wrestler, and mixed martial artist Hong-Man Choi is known by many names, including “the Korean Colossus,” “Korean Monster,” and “Techno Goliath.” At 7ft 2in, Choi knows how to use his superior size to overpower his opponents.
Sadly, Choi is on the road to retirement due to health reasons, but he is still a big star in South Korea. These days, he is pursuing an acting career and has appeared on Korean TV shows “2 Days & 1 Night”, “Running Man”, and “Hey Ghost, Let’s Fight,” and is also working on singing and rap skills.
Darya Klishina – 5’11”
Darya Igorevna Klishina is one of the top long jumpers in the world. She has an Olympic silver medal and the record for the second-longest jump in the world in 2010. Klishina is well known for her incredible work ethic on the track and in the gym.
Unfortunately, Kilshina suffered by association with the Russian National Federation scandal. The Russian team was banned from competition and twenty athletes, including Klishina, decided to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio as neutrals. This was not viewed favorably by the Russian government and public and many consider these athletes to be traitors.
Ivo Karlovic – 6’11”
Croatian tennis player Ivo Karlovic is 6 feet 11 inches tall. He soars above his competitors and is by far the tallest professional tennis player around. Karlovic uses his incredibly long arms and legs as leverage for powerful serves that overwhelm his opponents.
With a record-breaking serve reaching 156 miles per hour and the most career aces, 12,255 as of 2017, he is more than just a tall guy. Karlovic also won eight ATP singles titles between 2007 and 2016.
Rik Smits – 7’4″
Rik Smits may not be one of the tallest players in NBA history, but at 7 feet 4 inches, it’s easy to see why Smits, known as “The Dunking Dutchman,” dominated the game in his prime. Smits, who was born in The Netherlands, was known for more than just his height; he had good technical skills and was considered a smart player.
In 1998, he was even named as an NBA all-star. Smits played for his entire career with only one team, the Indian Pacers. I bet the good folks of Indiana appreciated the decision.
Jan Koller – 6’7.5″
Jan Koller was one of the tallest and heaviest soccer players in the history of the sport and has an impressive scoring record. Born in the Czech Republic, Koller began his training as a goalkeeper but was soon moved to striker due to his talent for putting the ball in the net. He played for teams such as Borussia Dortmund, Monaco, and Anderlecht.
He was also instrumental in leading the Czech Republic’s team to the Euro Cup semi-finals in 2004, where he played side-by-side with stars like Milan Baros, Pavel Nedved, and Tomas Rosicky. Later in his career, Koller played for French and Russian clubs and, in 2011, announced his retirement due to multiple injuries.