Meet the teenager with the largest hands and feet in the world
16-year-old Eric Kilburn Jr. from Goodrich, Michigan, USA, has secured a coveted spot in the Guinness World Records 2025 book for two remarkable achievements.
Like many teens his age, Eric enjoys spending time with family and friends, balancing sports and video games in his free time. However, he quite literally stands out from the crowd.
He holds the record for the largest feet on a living teenager, with his feet measuring an impressive 34.30 cm (13.50 inches). His shoes are an American size 23 (the equivalent of a size 22 for the UK).
That's significantly larger than the average shoe for an adult male, which typically ranges from 8.5 to 9.
Eric’s hands are equally extraordinary: measuring an amazing 23.20 cm (9.13 inches), they are the largest hands on a living teenager.
Their size far exceeds the average for his age, which stands at 19.04 cm (just over 7.4 inches).
Eric first became aware of his exceptional size in kindergarten, noticing that he was "much taller and larger than his friends."
As he grew older, the difference only became more pronounced, and he recalls his large hands and feet affecting his everyday life on several occasions.
The teenager recalls that he hasn’t been able to shop for shoes in a store “since around fifth grade”.
Soon, shopping for gloves also became a challenge.
With no choice but to order custom-made orthopaedic shoes that cost over $1,500 (£1,146.86) for a single pair, Eric's mother Rebecca began to wonder if his remarkable size might qualify him for a world record.
She thought that, perhaps, having Eric's unique measurements acknowledged with a record would, in turn, attract companies willing to produce shoes that would fit his unique measurements.
With the help and encouragement of his mum and a family friend, Kara Pattison, Eric applied for his record titles when he was 14 years old.
As Eric's story gained traction online, major companies like Puma and Under Armour stepped in.
The companies offered him custom-made shoes and boots, bringing an unexpected but welcome change into his life.
Looking back on his record-breaking journey, Eric recalls that one of the best parts about his record was “having the connection with the amazing shoe companies, and all of the people who stepped up to help me when I needed shoes.”
“It was pretty cool to see how many people genuinely care about helping others,” he says.
It was a great example of the power of positive media.
- Eric Kilburn
Standing out in public often means that Eric catches the attention of strangers, with some going as far as whispering behind his back or staring at his unusual size.
However, the teenager has learned to navigate the stares and questions.
He’s also discovered that many people are amazed by his size, and this curiosity has led to unexpected conversations with interesting individuals.
“People are usually amazed and feel comfortable starting conversations with me about the size of my feet and hands,” he explains. “I meet lots of interesting people this way.”
Despite his extraordinary size, Eric’s family and friends treat him no differently. However, the teen adds that his friends do get a kick out of trying on his massive shoes!
I’m just ‘regular Eric’ to them.
When not focused on his schoolwork, Eric enjoys spending time with his pets, gaming with friends, and exploring new places. A sports enthusiast, he finds it particularly easy to handle a basketball and football.
“Combined with my height, I make an excellent blocker for all kinds of shots in sporting events,” he adds.
Beyond conventional sports, Eric also enjoys some unique hobbies like metal forging and woodworking, interests he shares with his grandfather.
“My favourite class was Conflicts of the 20th Century last year,” he adds, "I love to learn about history."
Looking at the future, Eric doesn't hide his desire to give back and help those in need.
He also hopes to get involved with The Big Shoe Network: the nonprofit 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 I was helped when I needed it,” Eric explains.
He remains grateful for the unwavering support of his close-knit family, especially his grandparents, with whom he shares a special bond. “My grandpa is someone I look up to and trust completely,” he says.
Eric also admires his mother’s resilience and strength. He shares a special bond with his mum, and is inspired by her ability to care for others while working toward her own goals.
“She’s shown me that you can achieve anything, even during tough times,” he adds.
My mom has shown me that you can do anything even through hard times. Her strength and how she takes such good care of my brother and me, and also cares about others while working towards her goals, is pretty inspiring.
As a longtime fan of Guinness World Records, Eric is still in shock that he’s now featured in the very same book he grew up reading, alongside record holders he always admired.
One of them is Robert Wadlow, the tallest man ever, whom Eric always looked up to.
“Being in the Guinness World Records book still feels surreal,” he admits. “To have gone from reading the books to being inside the 2025 book is something I never would have imagined was even possible."
“This experience is something that I am so grateful for. It really couldn't be any better in my eyes,” the teen admits when asked if he’d like to break another record.
While the teen is content with his current achievements, he's open to the possibility of being remeasured in the future. He doesn't have his eyes set on any other record title, but he'd like to see if he’s grown since the first record application!
Being featured in Guinness World Records 2025 is an honour. It will be a lifelong memory that I hope to be able to use to help other people, too.
Looking ahead, Eric aspires to use his record title to support, educate and inspire as many people as possible.
He would like to follow the example of one of his idols, basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, and use his platforms to help others.
“He’s an incredible man that I really look up to,” Eric says.
Speaking to the people who may feel out of place due to their unique attributes, Eric offers some advice: “It’s okay to stand out. Don’t let negativity distract you from your goals.”
He also encourages people to ignore mean comments, although he acknowledges it might be difficult, reminding them that those who try to bring others down are often unhappy themselves.
Do not to let others get you down. It can be easy to read or listen to mean comments, but those individuals are usually the most ultimately unhappy people out there and you need to stay focused on yourself.