There are a lot of well-known short celebrities who have made names for themselves in popular media –– from Tom Cruise, to Peter Dinklage, to Bruno Mars. Most men we tend to think of in this category, however, belong to the worlds of Hollywood and popular music.
We see fewer examples in sports and competition, where height is often more essential to success. And yet, there are still several famous competitors in both mainstream and fringe sports who have thrived despite being significantly shorter than most of their primary opposition. Let’s take a look at some examples….
Lando Norris
Early in his career, the young British-Belgian made an impression in the world of competitive racing by winning tournaments like the MSA Formula Championship, and the Formula Renault 2.0 –– ultimately earning himself a membership in the McLaren Young Driver Programme. The driver has since become one of the most exciting new faces of Formula 1, racing for the McLaren team. And while height is perhaps less essential to success in Formula 1 than some other sports (and perhaps even detrimental, past a point), Norris does stand out for being shorter than his counterparts. He stands at about 5’6”, in a discipline where most drivers land somewhere between 5’8 and 6’0.
Sammy Farha
While poker is (somewhat like F1) not a competitive activity that demands height, it has been the case that most of the best pro poker players have happened to be tall. Phil Hellmuth is something of a giant of the tour at 6’7. Doyle Brunson is 6’2, and Phil Ivey about 6’1. Even Daniel Negreanu is at least of an average height at 5’8. Perhaps a bit of height contributes to the projection of confidence at the tables, which does matter a little bit. Even if this is the case though, Sammy Farha –– who made a name for himself as a tough player in the 2000s and won three World Series of Poker bracelets –– is, like Norris, 5’6. It certainly never held him back.
Diego Schwartzman
Diego Schwartzman is an Argentine tennis professional who won his first title at the 2016 Istanbul Open –– beating Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who is eight inches taller. What seemed then like a shock outcome however would not be anymore. In the time since that first title, Schwartzman –– listed at 5’7 and quite possibly a bit shorter –– has become a mainstay in tennis’s top 20. He routinely defeats high-level opponents in a sport that is increasingly populated by competitors well over 6’0” in stature.
Isaiah Thomas
If there’s a sport where an above-average height is considered by many a basic requirement, it’s basketball. Most of the best players of all time have fallen roughly into the range of 6’5” to 7’0” –– and today, even point guards (historically the shorter players) are often 6’4” or taller! Isaiah Thomas, however, managed to become a bona fide NBA star just a few years ago, despite standing just 5’9”. A two-time All-Star, he’ll long be remembered as an exceptional player.
José Altuve
The Venezuelan player started his career in the MLB in 2011 with the Houston Astros. At 5’6, Altuve is one of the shortest players in the league, but that hasn’t stopped him from recording more than 200 hits per season, and becoming the 16th player to reach 100 home runs for the Astros. Though his career has been marred somewhat by involvement in a scandal for which the Astros were heavily penalized, Altuve’s ability is undeniable. He’s been an MLB All-Star seven times, won a World Series, and was even the American League MVP in 2017. Height is not essential in baseball, but we simply don’t see many players of Altuve’s size achieving so much very often.
It’s not very common to find men shorter men who succeed in industries in which being tall is an asset. But the competitors above show us that from the poker tables, to the tracks, to the basketball court, there are ways to thrive regardless of one’s physical stature.
