Whenever discussion turns to the greatest wrestler of all time
Whenever discussion turns to the greatest wrestler of all time

one name is near the top of everybody's list
one name is near the top of everybody's list

Andre the Giant
Andre the Giant

one of the most visually striking characters
one of the most visually striking characters

to ever grace the wrestling ring
to ever grace the wrestling ring

he also stood remarkably tall
he also stood remarkably tall

But just how tall is Andre the Giant really?
But just how tall is Andre the Giant really?

By age 12 Andre was already over Six Foot
By age 12 Andre was already over Six Foot

suffering from excessive growth hormone secretion
suffering from excessive growth hormone secretion

in his late teens he rapidly approached 7 foot
in his late teens he rapidly approached 7 foot

Andre began wrestling at a relatively young age
Andre began wrestling at a relatively young age

in France, under the name Jean Ferre
in France, under the name Jean Ferre

he was billed at 208 centimetres
he was billed at 208 centimetres

roughly 6 foot 10
roughly 6 foot 10

Andre the Giant's height has not only confounded visitors to CelebHeights.com
Andre the Giant's height has not only confounded visitors to CelebHeights.com

even authors who wrote books on Roussimoff
even authors who wrote books on Roussimoff

have been left baffled as to his actual stature
have been left baffled as to his actual stature

Andre's own French passport, reportedly listed him
Andre's own French passport, reportedly listed him

as just under 7 foot 2
as just under 7 foot 2

However in 1971
However in 1971

Andre gave his own measurements
Andre gave his own measurements

saying, he was 214 centimetres
saying, he was 214 centimetres

or just over Seven Foot
or just over Seven Foot

In the world of wrestling, Andre worked alongside some of the biggest names in the sport
In the world of wrestling, Andre worked alongside some of the biggest names in the sport

and earned the tagline, the 8th wonder of the world
and earned the tagline, the 8th wonder of the world

However, he didn't quite live up to his billed height of 7 foot 4
However, he didn't quite live up to his billed height of 7 foot 4

let alone the 7 foot 5 or 6 some newspapers inflated him to
let alone the 7 foot 5 or 6 some newspapers inflated him to

but wrestling is about showmanship
but wrestling is about showmanship

and most wrestler's get billed taller and heavier than reality
and most wrestler's get billed taller and heavier than reality

it sells tickets
it sells tickets

if I was a wrestler
if I was a wrestler

Rob Almighty would certainly not be billed as only 5 foot 8
Rob Almighty would certainly not be billed as only 5 foot 8

one of Andre's biggest nemesis in the ring was Hulk Hogan
one of Andre's biggest nemesis in the ring was Hulk Hogan

when you compare Andre to the Hulk
when you compare Andre to the Hulk

who may have been 6 foot 6 in his prime
who may have been 6 foot 6 in his prime

the notion Andre was ever over 7 foot
the notion Andre was ever over 7 foot

quickly dissipates
quickly dissipates

the question becomes, whether Andre was even 7 foot tall
the question becomes, whether Andre was even 7 foot tall

Wrestling may be scripted, but the injuries and long-term damage these athletes suffer
Wrestling may be scripted, but the injuries and long-term damage these athletes suffer

certainly isn't
certainly isn't

We have to remember that Andre was wrestling
We have to remember that Andre was wrestling

from his late teens
from his late teens

and men of his massive size are bound to lose height
and men of his massive size are bound to lose height

through all the impacts, slams and physical requirements
through all the impacts, slams and physical requirements

demanded of the sport
demanded of the sport

and that's before even considering
and that's before even considering

how acromegaly impacted his spine
how acromegaly impacted his spine

Andre sometimes had to wear a back-brace just to stand taller
Andre sometimes had to wear a back-brace just to stand taller

I'd be absolutely shocked
I'd be absolutely shocked

if Andre hadn't lost at least an inch of height by the 1980's
if Andre hadn't lost at least an inch of height by the 1980's

During that decade
During that decade

Andre was one of the most recognisable stars on the planet
Andre was one of the most recognisable stars on the planet

and probably didn't go a day without being asked for an autograph or photograph
and probably didn't go a day without being asked for an autograph or photograph

many celebs loved to meet Andre and get a memento of the occasion
many celebs loved to meet Andre and get a memento of the occasion

like the 5 foot 3 inch Debbie Harry
like the 5 foot 3 inch Debbie Harry

almost 5 foot 10 Michael Douglas
almost 5 foot 10 Michael Douglas

future President Donald Trump
future President Donald Trump

and even a young Vin Diesel
and even a young Vin Diesel

when you're near 7 foot tall
when you're near 7 foot tall

daily activities like travel can prove immensely difficult
daily activities like travel can prove immensely difficult

but Andre was dedicated and wrestled all over the world
but Andre was dedicated and wrestled all over the world

in Japan he faced such figures as Giant Baba
in Japan he faced such figures as Giant Baba

who was billed as tall as 6 foot 10
who was billed as tall as 6 foot 10

Everything about Andre was larger than life
Everything about Andre was larger than life

If he asked you for some beer and you brought him a 6-pack
If he asked you for some beer and you brought him a 6-pack

he'd frown
he'd frown

he'd be expecting a case
he'd be expecting a case

and his head was enormous too
and his head was enormous too

measuring over 12 inches long
measuring over 12 inches long

and his feet?
and his feet?

if Andre walked through a forest and you discovered his footprint
if Andre walked through a forest and you discovered his footprint

you'd think you found evidence that BigFoot exists
you'd think you found evidence that BigFoot exists

Andre's hands were humungous too
Andre's hands were humungous too

the size of watermelons
the size of watermelons

Now Muhammad Ali may be the greatest boxer of all time
Now Muhammad Ali may be the greatest boxer of all time

but I doubt he'd want to get into an argument with Andre the Giant
but I doubt he'd want to get into an argument with Andre the Giant

the one time Andre did step into a boxing ring
the one time Andre did step into a boxing ring

was when he faced 6 foot 5 Chuck Wepner
was when he faced 6 foot 5 Chuck Wepner

who he made look like an Amateur
who he made look like an Amateur

Andre's presence was so big
Andre's presence was so big

he was never gonna confine himself solely to the wrestling ring
he was never gonna confine himself solely to the wrestling ring

the world of TV and movies beckoned
the world of TV and movies beckoned

and his most famous role
and his most famous role

was the Princess Bride
was the Princess Bride

he made that at age 40
he made that at age 40

and beside the 5 foot 11 inch Cary Elwes
and beside the 5 foot 11 inch Cary Elwes

he still managed to look at least 6 foot 10
he still managed to look at least 6 foot 10

an earlier foray into the world of film
an earlier foray into the world of film

was when Andre worked on Conan the Destroyer
was when Andre worked on Conan the Destroyer

It's not often in life Andre would have to gaze up to somebody
It's not often in life Andre would have to gaze up to somebody

but on that set, he did
but on that set, he did

whilst he was a head above Arnold Schwarzenegger
whilst he was a head above Arnold Schwarzenegger

when standing astride 7 foot 1 inch WIlt Chamberlain
when standing astride 7 foot 1 inch WIlt Chamberlain

he had to gaze up to talk to him
he had to gaze up to talk to him

I think if you just looked at Andre in his late 30's or early 40's
I think if you just looked at Andre in his late 30's or early 40's

you'd be left with the impression
you'd be left with the impression

he was more 6 foot 10 than 7 foot
he was more 6 foot 10 than 7 foot

but I reckon he lost height by age 30
but I reckon he lost height by age 30

and if you measured him in his 20's
and if you measured him in his 20's

he may have reached the 7 foot mark
he may have reached the 7 foot mark