Felipe Birriel

Felipe Birriel Fernández, also known as "El Gigante de Carolina" (Carolina's Giant) (August 16, 1916 – March 15, 1994) is considered to have been the tallest Puerto Rican, with an unconfirmed height of .

Early years Birriel was born in the Barrazas barrio of Carolina, Puerto Rico. He was the third of nine children born to Juan Pedro Birriel y Birriel (1878–1967), a farmer, and Dionisia Fernández Fernández (1890–1985). His highest level of education was up to the second grade in elementary school. As a child, Birriel was sent to the farm fields where he helped his parents plant vegetable seeds. He also worked picking fruits and coffee beans and as a waterboy, delivered water to the sugar cane workers.

In 1932, when Birriel was 16 years old, he started to grow at an alarming rate. One day, he felt sick with dizziness and weakness causing him to see a doctor. The doctor informed Birriel that his pituitary gland had developed a tumor. Even though the condition did not have a known cure, it was still treatable. In 1974, during the celebration of the FIBA World Basketball Championships celebrated in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Birriel was the guest of honor and was invited to the basketball court, in front of all the spectators he dunked the ball without jumping, a standing ovation followed.

Honors The town of Carolina is also known as the "Land of Giants" in honor of Birriel. Carolina also unveiled a mural which states the following: "Carolina, Tierra de Gigantes" (Carolina, Land of Giants). The BSN basketball team of Carolina is called "Los Gigantes de Carolina" (The Carolina Giants) and the town has dedicated a museum to the memory of Birriel and has also named a street "El Paseo Felipe Birriel".

Wanda de Jesús Arvelo, an author from Carolina wrote a children's book about Birriel's life titled "Felipe Corazón de Gigantes".