7’9″ Teenage sensation Olivier Rioux was spotted ducking into the Florida Gators’ dressing room ahead of his side’s NCAA Championship Game against the Houston Cougars.
The Canadian freshman has not played a single game for Todd Golden’s side. He was redshirted at the start of the season to preserve his eligibility.
How Tall Is Olivier Rioux?
According to multiple sources, including ESPN, the Gators center is the tallest recorded player in the history of NCAA basketball, ahead of Kenny George and Mike Lanier.
On Florida, the closest comparison to the teenager is fellow center Ruben Chinyelu, who the Canadian has gone on record stating that he wants to compete with.
Rioux is also the holder of a Guinness World Record as the tallest recorded living teenager in the world, a record he attributed to genetics and his family.
How Tall Are Olivier Rioux’s Parents?
When asked about where exactly his freakish genetics came from, the Gator explained that it came from his familial genetics.
“We’re still not 100% sure why I’m so tall — after investigation, doctors could only explain it with the genetics that my family has. My father is 6’8, my mom is 6’2, and my older brother is 6’9″. So we’re a pretty tall family!” Rioux told the Guinness World Book of Records.
In an interview back in 2023, Rioux’s father, Jean-François, who is a former volleyball player and currently works at a packing company in Quebec, revealed how he dealt with his freakishly tall son being treated like a spectacle.
“At some point, if you see him, you can say ‘Hi,’ you can say ‘Hey, how are you, big guy?’ But don’t be rude.” Rioux’s father told W5, a sentiment that his son agreed with.
Speaking to CBS Sports this year, the Canadian teenager discussed how his father was his model when dealing with the added attention he got.
“My model was my dad,” Rioux said. “Whenever we were at the mall or whatever … everyone would come up to us and say, ‘Oh my God, how tall are you? Even your child is tall.’ But it was always respectful.”
Oliver’s mother, Anne, who is 6’2″, is a lot more tight-lipped in the media compared to his father, but according to her Facebook, she works in the Royal Bank of Canada and is a graduate of the University of Quebec.
Rioux also has a brother, Emile, who is quite a bit “shorter” than his brother at 6’9″. Emile also plays basketball and went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft.
KEEP READING: Florida Gators NCAA Men’s Basketball Title History
In a recent interview with AP, Olivier discussed what it was like to realize he had outgrown his brother.
“At my meemaw’s house, we had the wall where me and my brother used to measure ourselves. And then one day, poof, my brother was gone,” Rioux reflected.
Ahead of next season, the teenager will still be a freshman next year because he was redshirted at the start of the 2024-2025 season, meaning he still has four years of eligibility left.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
