Reebok makes shoes for tallest man in U.S.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Athletic shoe company Reebok said it has created a custom pair of size 24 shoes for a New York state man known as the tallest in the United States.

Igor Vovkovinskiy, 30, who stands at 7-foot-8 1/3, tried on the three pairs of custom-made size 24, 10E sneakers Thursday at the Rochester Athletic Club, the Rochester Post Bulletin reported Friday.

"It feels so good, like I'm walking on pillows or mattresses," said Vovkovinskiy, who moved to the United States in 1989 to receive surgery for tumors on his pituitary gland, which caused his large size.

Vovkovinskiy said a series of surgeries on his feet left them misshapen, and further complicated his attempts to find shoes that fit.

"For so long it hurt to have shoes on," he said. "Every day I was in pain. I want to be active again and walk. I can barely walk two blocks now. Before, I could walk two miles."