Edward Niño Hernández being honoured as the world's shortest man.

Gulf Today Report

Guinness World Records, the global authority on record-breaking achievement, confirms that 34-year-old Edward Niño Hernández is the shortest man living (mobile) at 72.10 cm (2 ft. 4.3938 in).

Edward is a Colombian and he loves dancing to Reggaeton, Merengue, and Vallenato music and enjoying life. He dreams of owning a car – preferably a Mercedes-Benz – and wants to see the world.

Born on May 10, 1986, Edward grew up like most kids. At the age of 4, he realised he was not growing taller like his friends. Though his parents sought medical advice, it would be nearly 20 years before the diagnosis of severe hypothyroidism finally confirmed why his natural growth was affected.

Natalia Ramírez, Guinness World Records Latin America Adjudicator, presented Edward with the official title at a medical clinic in his home city of Bogotá, Colombia, prior to the enforcement of social distancing. His family and orthopaedist, Cristina Suárez, were by his side during the presentation.

Edward first became a Guinness World Records title holder at the age of 23 on April 13, 2010, when he measured at 70.21 cm (2 ft. 3.64 in).

On October 14, 2010, Khagendra Thapa Magar (Nepal) became the new record title holder at 67.08 cm (2 ft. 2.41 in), before losing the record to Chandra Bahadur Dangi (Nepal) at 54.6 cm (21.5 in.).

Following the deaths of Dangi and Magar, the record title has now passed once again to Edward.

Upon receiving his record Edward said, “I use my smile to conquer the world! I always share my big smile with everyone; that’s my charm. I can achieve everything I propose to myself. Everything is possible… Size and height don’t matter! I want people to meet who I truly am: small in size, big in heart!”

The shortest female living is Jyoti Kisanji Amge (India, 16 December 1993) at 62.8 cm (24.7 in), as measured in Nagpur, India, on 16 December 2011.