America's tallest man will get new shoes thanks to generous donors

A Rochester man who measures 7 feet 8 inches and desperately needs a new pair of shoes will finally get them. Igor Vovkivinskiy has raised more than $28,000, according to his website.

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Updated:: Mar 8, 2018
Original:: Mar 28, 2012

A Rochester man who measures 7 feet 8 inches and desperately needs a new pair of shoes will finally get them, WCCO reports.

Igor Vovkivinskiy, the tallest man in America, has raised more than $28,000, according to his website.

"Thank you so much to everyone who made this donation drive happen!! I cannot believe my eyes at the amount and the generosity of the people. Thank you all," Igor Vovkivinskiy writes.

The last time Vovkivinskiy bought shoes -- custom made by a German cobbler -- he wore size 26. But 15 foot surgeries in the past few years have changed the shape of his feet. Reebok told him it would cost $15,000 to make him a new pair that fit, so he launched an online drive to raise some money.

WCCO picked up his story ...

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The founder of Palidium, Inc. told WCCO he promised Igor Vovkovinsky a brand new pair of "state-of-the-art" size 26 shoes. The Rochester man, who stands 7-feet, 8-inches tall, will be the first person in the state to wear the new ZeroTie technology shoes available this fall. (Photo courtesy: Greg Smith)

Igor Vovkivinskiy of Rochester stands 7 feet, 8 inches. The last time he bought shoes -- custom made by a German cobbler -- he wore size 26. But a series of foot surgeries in the past few years have changed the shape of his feet. He says he's down to his last pair and they're barely holding up. "Not having shoes has basically handicapped me, partially," he tells WCCO. Now some generous well-wishers are trying to help.

America's tallest man, 30-year-old Igor Vovkivinskiy of Rochester, received a much needed pair of shoes from Reebok Thursday. After 15 foot surgeries in the past few years, Vovkivinskiy was in a desperate need of custom-made shoes.

Rochester's Igor Vovkovinskiy has had 16 foot surgeries to fix problems caused by shoes that don't fit. A crew of technicians at Reebok headquarters in Massachusetts wants to design a pair that will fit the 7-foot-8-inch man. The custom-made shoes may wind up costing as much as $20,000.

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