This teenager has some pretty big shoes to fill.
Eric Kilburn Jr. — a 16-year-old football player at Goodrich High School in Michigan — has officially set not one, but two Guinness World Records.
The 6-foot-10 teenager has the biggest feet and biggest hands of any teenager alive.
His feet are 13½ inches, making him a shocking size 23 in men’s shoes, which is drastically larger than the typical 8½ to 9 range for a man.
Meanwhile, his hands span 9.13 inches — much larger than the average 7.4 inches for those his age.
“People are usually surprised and comfortable starting conversations with me about the size of my feet and hands,” he told Guinness. “I meet a lot of interesting people this way.”
Kilburn has been much bigger than his classmates since kindergarten and hasn’t been able to buy new shoes in a store since he was in fifth grade.
He only noticed his peculiarity when his size began to cause problems with everyday life. The custom shoes – which doctors warned would cost the family more than $1,500 – would have put a financial strain on his family.
Instead, Kilburn chose to wear Crocs for two straight years, including in Michigan’s snowy weather conditions, and developed painful calluses, blisters and ingrown toenails.
He also had to watch his football team from the sidelines due to a high ankle sprain from not wearing cleats.
Fortunately, as the teenager’s story spread, several shoemakers – including Under Armor and Reebok, with the help of NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal – stepped up to provide the high schooler with a pair of shoes that fit.
“It was very interesting to see how many people really care about helping others,” he said.
Seeing others help him inspired Kilburn Jr. continue to spread positivity through the Big Shoe Network – a non-profit organization founded by his mother focused on helping individuals who struggle to find clothes and shoes in their size.
“I want to help people the same way they helped me when I was in need,” Eric explained.
He also hopes to encourage people to embrace their differences.
“It’s okay to stand out. Don’t let negativity keep you from your goals,” said the positive-minded teenager.
Although setting two world records before turning 18 wasn’t exactly his goal, the high school student is excited about this recognition.
“Being in the Guinness Book of World Records still feels surreal,” he admitted. “Going from reading books to being inside the book of 2025 is something I never would have imagined possible.
“This experience is something I am very grateful for. It really couldn’t be better, in my eyes.”
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Image Source : nypost.com