Guinness crowns new tallest U.S. man

NEW YORK, May 25 (UPI) -- Guinness World Records said a Minnesota man measuring 7 feet, 8.33 inches has been named the Tallest Living Man in America.

Officials said Igor Vovkovinskiy, 27, traveled to New York to meet with them on the set of "The Dr. Oz Show," which aired in syndication Monday, and he was officially certified as the record holder, beating George Bell of Virginia by a third of an inch.

"Igor had been on our radar for awhile, so we were eager to measure him and see if he was, in fact, the Tallest Living Man in America," Guinness World Records adjudicator Danny Girton Jr. said. "Following stringent Guinness World Record guidelines on measurement, we're pleased to confirm that Igor is now a part of record-breaking history."

Vovkovinskiy said it "feels good to finally have proof that I am the Tallest Man in America. Everyone is always asking me if I'm certain that I'm the tallest and I was never able to prove it. Now that I have this certificate to hang on my wall, I could finally show it."