Shortest man vs longest-legged woman

BEIJING, Sept. 18 -- Trafalgar Square routinely

serves as a stage for mimes, jugglers and other acts, but the tourist attraction

drew an exceptionally curious crowd Tuesday when the shortest man who can walk

met the woman with the longest legs.

The world's smallest man, He Pingping,

and the woman with the longest legs in the world, Svetlana Pankratova,

both celebrate the launch of the 2009 edition of the Guiness World Records

in Trafalgar Square, London. (Photo:

chinadaily.com.cn/Agency)
Photo

Gallery

He Pingping, of China, was born with a type of

dwarfism. He, 20, stands precisely 2 feet 5.37 inches (about 74.61 cm) tall.

The pair met to publicize the release of "Guinness

World Records 2009." This year's version of the popular book is due out

Wednesday.

He called Svetlana Pankratova's legs "very

beautiful."

Pankratova, 36, who is Russian but lives in Spain,

has legs that are nearly 52 inches long (1.32 meters), or more than 4 feet long.

Her upper body has nearly typical proportions, giving her a giraffe-like

appearance.

The world's smallest man, He Pingping,

and the woman with the longest legs in the world, Svetlana Pankratova,

both celebrate the launch of the 2009 edition of the Guinness World

Records in Trafalgar Square, London.(Photo:

chinadaily.com.cn/Agency)
Photo Gallery

Dressed in a bright-blue mini-dress and low-heeled

pumps, Pankratova, 36, said she liked her legs, though they can complicate

things. "It's hard to find clothes, especially pants," she said.

At just over 6-foot-4 (about 1.98 meters) ,

Pankratova isn't the tallest woman on record. Sandy Allen, of Shelbyville,

Indiana, who died recently, held that title at 7 feet, 7 inches, according to

the book. The book said He is the shortest man who can walk.

The latest edition of the book lists pop star Britney

Spears as the most-searched person on the Internet and the television show

"Lost" as the most-downloaded show of all time.

The book has been around for half a century. About

3.5 million copies are sold each year, according to editor-in-chief Craig

Glenday.

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn/Agencies)

The world's smallest man, He Pingping,

and the woman with the longest legs in the world, Svetlana Pankratova,

both celebrate the launch of the 2009 edition of the Guinness World

Records in Trafalgar Square, London.(Photo:

chinadaily.com.cn/Agency)
Photo Gallery

The world's smallest man, He Pingping,

and the woman with the longest legs in the world, Svetlana Pankratova,

both celebrate the launch of the 2009 edition of the Guinness World

Records in Trafalgar Square, London.(Photo:

chinadaily.com.cn/Agency)
Photo

Gallery