Big feet finally get big shoes

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 3 (UPI) -- The tallest man in the United States says he's finally found someone who makes shoes big enough for his big -- really big -- feet.

Igor Vovkovinskiy, 29, of Rochester, Minn. at 7 feet 8 inches had forgotten what it was like to have shoes that didn't cause painful foot sores on his feet, The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier Journal reported.

Now that Louisville, Ky., shoemaker Alan Kleinman has made his custom footwear, Vovkovinskiy said he said he's able for the first time in years to go grocery shopping, walk his dog and "do everyday things."

Kleinman, owner of Kleinman's Living Shoes, made a custom pair of shoes for Vovkovinskiy after learning about him on a national daytime talk show, the newspaper said.

Vovkovinskiy's new shoes are the largest Kleinman has ever made, estimated at "about a size 25 1/2 to 26," Kleinman said -- compared to the 22 or 23 size footwear of retired basketball great Shaquille O'Neal.

Vovkovinskiy was born in Ukraine. Kleinman made the shoes at now charge as an early birthday present for the big guy, who turns 30 on Sept. 18.