The XO Directory

Bao Xishun of China is the world's tallest man for the second time.

The Guinness World Records has returned the title to him after Leonid Stadnyk of Ukraine refused to be measured under the records book's new guideline. Bao, who stands at 7 feet, 8.95 inches, held the title for a year before losing it in 2006 to Stadnyk, who is 8 feet 5.5 inches tall.

Under the new guideline, candidates need to be measured six times in one day in both standing and lying position. Bao agreed but Stadnyk refused, and so Guinness was forced to give the record back to Bao based on a statement from his doctor.

"We realized there was such interest and excitement in these categories to do with height that it was too important a category for us to leave it to a doctor alone," Glenday said. "So we decided to tighten things up completely to make sure there was no doubt."

Link. (Image credit: bluto392)