Olivier Rioux was formerly the world’s tallest teenager and tipped to make a splash in the basketball big leagues
Olivier Rioux turned heads for his height and skills on the court(Image: James Gilbert, Getty Images)
Olivier Rioux draws attention before he even sets foot on a basketball court. The 20-year-old was formerly the world’s tallest teenager, standing head and shoulders above his contemporaries at an astonishing seven feet and nine inches, which is two inches taller than the tallest-ever NBA player.
The Canadian centre gained recognition in the lead-up to last year’s March Madness. He was part of the Florida Gators side that captured the NCAA tournament in 2025.
Basketball fans expected Rioux to attract interest from NBA scouts but Gators head coach Todd Golden had alternative plans. Despite demands for the record-breaking teenager to feature, Rioux was redshirted, meaning he wouldn’t compete during the season to maintain his college basketball eligibility.
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The 20-year-old is familiar with the attention his imposing stature attracts, having initially set his previous world record at 15. Yet Rioux also started breaking records on the court in November, becoming the tallest college basketball player in history during his Gators debut against North Florida.
A month later, Rioux shattered another college basketball record. He is the tallest player to have netted a basket at the college level after his score in a 102-61 triumph over Saint Francis.
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However, despite it being his second year with the Gators, the Canada U19 international has largely been a peripheral figure. He has appeared in nine matches this season, clocking up just 15 minutes of play.
Olivier Rioux preparing for March Madness(Image: James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Speaking about Rioux’s limited chances at the beginning of this year, coach Golden told ESPN: “I know he’s sitting over there probably like, ‘Damn man, I didn’t know all these guys were coming back.’
“So it’s going to be a tough one this year to play. It really will be. But…I do think he has some really good basketball ahead of him, whether it’s here at Florida or somewhere else.”
The Gators head into March Madness as one of four No. 1 seeds, thanks to their 26-7 record in the Southeastern Conference.
Rioux and his teammates are looking to retain the NCAA title(Image: James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Whilst Rioux is not anticipated to play a significant part during March Madness, he remains optimistic about his prospects.
“I think a lot of people don’t really know what I’m committed to doing,” he told ESPN. “Obviously, you see a highlight here and there, but you don’t see what the person is capable of doing. I want to push myself to be able to do that.”
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