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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{short description|Only person to have been a dwarf and a giant}}
{{short description|Only person to have been a dwarf and a giant}}
{{Distinguish|Adam Rayner}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Adam Rainer
⚫
|birth_date = 1899
| image = Adam Rainer (1899-1950) circa 1930.webp
⚫
|birth_place = [[Graz]], [[Austria-Hungary]]
| caption = Adam Rainer (left) and a man of average height, c. 1930
⚫
|known = Being both a dwarf and giant
| height = {{convert|122.55|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} (Age 18)<br>
⚫
|death_date = {{death date and age|1950|3|4|1899}}
{{convert|234|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} (Age 51)
⚫
| birth_date = 1899
⚫
| birth_place = [[Graz]], [[Austria-Hungary]]
⚫
| known = Being both a dwarf and giant
⚫
| death_date = {{death date and age|1950|3|4|1899|df=y}}
}}
}}
'''Adam Rainer''' (1899{{nbsp}}– 4 March 1950) was the only person in [[recorded history]] to have been both a [[dwarfism|dwarf]] and a [[gigantism|giant]].<ref>''Guinness World Records'', 2004.</ref> He is believed to have had [[acromegaly]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thechirurgeonsapprentice.com/2015/01/20/worlds-littlest-giant-the-curious-case-of-adam-rainer/|title=World's Littlest Giant: The Curious Case of Adam Rainer|date=20 January 2015|website=thechirurgeonsapprentice.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206050935/http://thechirurgeonsapprentice.com/2015/01/20/worlds-littlest-giant-the-curious-case-of-adam-rainer/|archive-date=6 February 2015|url-status=|access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref>
'''Adam Rainer''' (1899{{nbsp}}– 4 March 1950) was an [[Austria-Hungary|Austro-Hungarian]] man. He is the only person in [[recorded history]] to have been both a [[dwarfism|dwarf]] and a [[gigantism|giant]].<ref>''Guinness World Records'', 2004.</ref> He is believed to have had [[acromegaly]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thechirurgeonsapprentice.com/2015/01/20/worlds-littlest-giant-the-curious-case-of-adam-rainer/|title=World's Littlest Giant: The Curious Case of Adam Rainer|date=20 January 2015|website=thechirurgeonsapprentice.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206050935/http://thechirurgeonsapprentice.com/2015/01/20/worlds-littlest-giant-the-curious-case-of-adam-rainer/|archive-date=6 February 2015|url-status=|access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
=== Dwarfism ===
=== Dwarfism ===
Adam Rainer was born in [[Graz]], [[Austria-Hungary]] (present day [[Austria]]), in 1899.<ref name="Damn Int">Bellows, Alan. [http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=239 "The Man Who Was a Dwarf and a Giant"], DamnInteresting.com, 1 December 2005.</ref> As a child, Rainer was described as very small, thin, and weak. In 1917, at age 18, he was measured at {{convert|122.55|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}. The following year, he was measured at {{convert|111.5|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}. He therefore was refused entry into the [[Austro-Hungarian Army]] to take part in the [[First World War]].<ref name="Hirsch">{{cite journal |last=Hirsch |first=Oskar |date=1961 |title=Two Different Types of Gigantism Due to Similar Tumors. Discussion of Growth. |journal=Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=345–356 |doi=10.1159/000104531 |pmid=13907711 |url=https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/104531 |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> A typical defining characteristic of [[dwarfism]] is an adult height below {{convert|147|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}.
Adam Rainer was born in [[Graz]], [[Austria-Hungary]] (present day [[Austria]]), in 1899.<ref name="Damn Int2">Bellows, Alan. [http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=239 "The Man Who Was a Dwarf and a Giant"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610220702/http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=239 |date=10 June 2011 }}, DamnInteresting.com, 1 December 2005.</ref> As a child, Rainer was described as very small, thin, and weak. In 1917, at age 18, he was measured at {{convert|122.55|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}. He therefore was refused entry into the [[Austro-Hungarian Army]] to take part in the [[First World War]].<ref name="Hirsch">{{cite journal |last=Hirsch |first=Oskar |date=1961 |title=Two Different Types of Gigantism Due to Similar Tumors. Discussion of Growth. |journal=Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=345–356 |doi=10.1159/000104531 |pmid=13907711 |url=https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/104531 |access-date=19 April 2021 |archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130081406/https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/104531 |url-status=live }}</ref> A typical defining characteristic of [[dwarfism]] is an adult height below {{convert|147|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}.


=== Gigantism ===
=== Gigantism ===
Several years later, likely as a result of a [[Pituitary gland|pituitary]] tumor, he had a dramatic growth spurt. By 1932 (aged 33), he had reached a height of {{convert|218|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}.<ref>Hirsch, Obar. [http://www.thetallestman.com/images/adamrainer/adamrainer%20%2814%29.jpg Two Types of Gigantism Due to Similar Tumors. Discussion of Growth*] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717041033/http://www.thetallestman.com/images/adamrainer/adamrainer%20%2814%29.jpg |date=2011-07-17 }} Confinia Neurologica, Vol.{{nbsp}}21, No.{{nbsp}}4 (1961)</ref> Two doctors examined him in detail between August 1930 and May 1931. His height was {{convert|216|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}. A benign [[pituitary adenoma]] was found, which was responsible for the enormous growth. Oskar Hirsch removed the adenoma.<ref name="Hirsch"></ref> As a result of his [[gigantism]], he later became bedridden for the rest of his life.<ref name="Damn Int" /> When he died in 1950 at the age of 51, he had reached a final height of {{convert|234|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://www.thetallestman.com/adamrainer.htm Adam Rainer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219045451/http://www.thetallestman.com/adamrainer.htm |date=2017-12-19 }} at The Tallest Man</ref> He went from US [[shoe size]] 10 (EUR size 43) at age 19 to size 20 (EUR 53) only three years later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/adam-rainer-was-both-a-dwarf-and-a-giant-2015-1|title=The Insane Story Of A Man Who Was Born A Dwarf And Died A Giant|first=Lindsey|last=Fitzharris|website=Business Insider}}</ref>
Several years later, likely as a result of a [[Pituitary gland|pituitary]] [[Neoplasm|tumor]] that was identified later, Rainer had a dramatic growth spurt. Between his early 20s to early 30s, he gained height at the average rate of 9.14&nbsp;cm (3.16&nbsp;in) per year.<ref name="Damn Int2"/> By 1932 (aged 33), Rainer had reached a height of {{convert|218|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}.<ref>Hirsch, Obar. [http://www.thetallestman.com/images/adamrainer/adamrainer%20%2814%29.jpg Two Types of Gigantism Due to Similar Tumors. Discussion of Growth*] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717041033/http://www.thetallestman.com/images/adamrainer/adamrainer%20%2814%29.jpg |date=17 July 2011 }} Confinia Neurologica, Vol.{{nbsp}}21, No.{{nbsp}}4 (1961)</ref> He went from US [[shoe size]] 10 (EUR size 43) at age 19 to size 20 (EUR 57.5) only three years later.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fitzharris|first=Lindsey|title=The Insane Story Of A Man Who Was Born A Dwarf And Died A Giant|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/adam-rainer-was-both-a-dwarf-and-a-giant-2015-1|website=Business Insider|access-date=1 August 2020|archive-date=19 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219124049/https://www.businessinsider.com/adam-rainer-was-both-a-dwarf-and-a-giant-2015-1|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=Converted values and not original values|date=January 2024}}

Two doctors examined Rainer in detail between August 1930 and May 1931, at which time his height was {{convert|216|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}. A benign [[pituitary adenoma]] was found, which was responsible for the enormous growth. [[Oskar Hirsch|Dr. Oskar Hirsch]] removed the adenoma.<ref name="Hirsch" />

Prior to the removal of the tumor, Rainer had already been rendered weak and unable to stand due to his malfunctioning pituitary gland and the rapid growth that resulted. Shortly after the surgery, Rainer entered a "home for the aged" where he resided for the remainder of his life.<ref name="Damn Int2"/> When he died on 4 March 1950 at the age of 51, he had reached a final height of {{convert|234|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://www.thetallestman.com/adamrainer.htm Adam Rainer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219045451/http://www.thetallestman.com/adamrainer.htm |date=19 December 2017 }} at The Tallest Man</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:People with dwarfism]]
[[Category:People with dwarfism]]
[[Category:People with gigantism]]
[[Category:People with gigantism]]
[[Category:Austrian world record holders]]
[[Category:World record holders]]
[[Category:1899 births]]
[[Category:1899 births]]
[[Category:1950 deaths]]
[[Category:1950 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Graz]]
[[Category:People from Graz]]


{{Austria-bio-stub}}

Revision as of 04:55, 1 August 2024

Not to be confused with Adam Rayner.
Adam Rainer
Adam Rainer (left) and a man of average height, c. 1930
Born1899
Graz, Austria-Hungary
Died4 March 1950(1950-03-04) (aged 50–51)
Known forBeing both a dwarf and giant
Height122.55 cm (4 ft 0.25 in) (Age 18)
234 cm (7 ft 8 in) (Age 51)

Adam Rainer (1899 – 4 March 1950) was an Austro-Hungarian man. He is the only person in recorded history to have been both a dwarf and a giant.[1] He is believed to have had acromegaly.[2]

Biography

Dwarfism

Adam Rainer was born in Graz, Austria-Hungary (present day Austria), in 1899.[3] As a child, Rainer was described as very small, thin, and weak. In 1917, at age 18, he was measured at 122.55 cm (4 ft 0.25 in). He therefore was refused entry into the Austro-Hungarian Army to take part in the First World War.[4] A typical defining characteristic of dwarfism is an adult height below 147 cm (4 ft 10 in).

Gigantism

Several years later, likely as a result of a pituitary tumor that was identified later, Rainer had a dramatic growth spurt. Between his early 20s to early 30s, he gained height at the average rate of 9.14 cm (3.16 in) per year.[3] By 1932 (aged 33), Rainer had reached a height of 218 cm (7 ft 2 in).[5] He went from US shoe size 10 (EUR size 43) at age 19 to size 20 (EUR 57.5) only three years later.[6][unreliable source?]

Two doctors examined Rainer in detail between August 1930 and May 1931, at which time his height was 216 cm (7 ft 1 in). A benign pituitary adenoma was found, which was responsible for the enormous growth. Dr. Oskar Hirsch removed the adenoma.[4]

Prior to the removal of the tumor, Rainer had already been rendered weak and unable to stand due to his malfunctioning pituitary gland and the rapid growth that resulted. Shortly after the surgery, Rainer entered a "home for the aged" where he resided for the remainder of his life.[3] When he died on 4 March 1950 at the age of 51, he had reached a final height of 234 cm (7 ft 8 in).[7]

References

  1. ^ Guinness World Records, 2004.
  2. ^ "World's Littlest Giant: The Curious Case of Adam Rainer". thechirurgeonsapprentice.com. 20 January 2015. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Bellows, Alan. "The Man Who Was a Dwarf and a Giant" Archived 10 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, DamnInteresting.com, 1 December 2005.
  4. ^ a b Hirsch, Oskar (1961). "Two Different Types of Gigantism Due to Similar Tumors. Discussion of Growth". Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. 21 (4): 345–356. doi:10.1159/000104531. PMID 13907711. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  5. ^ Hirsch, Obar. Two Types of Gigantism Due to Similar Tumors. Discussion of Growth* Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Confinia Neurologica, Vol. 21, No. 4 (1961)
  6. ^ Fitzharris, Lindsey. "The Insane Story Of A Man Who Was Born A Dwarf And Died A Giant". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 19 February 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  7. ^ Adam Rainer Archived 19 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine at The Tallest Man
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