GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Canada’s Olivier Rioux, officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest teenager, has now become the tallest player in college basketball history, standing at an astonishing 7 feet 9 inches (2.36 metres).
The 19-year-old Terrebonne, Quebec native made his long-awaited debut for the University of Florida Gators on Thursday night, stepping onto the court in the closing minutes of a 104–64 win over North Florida — and instantly becoming the centre of attention.
As chants of “We want Ollie!” echoed through the O’Connell Center, head coach Todd Golden finally gave in, subbing Rioux in with just over two minutes to play. The crowd erupted in one of the loudest ovations of the night, second only to the unveiling of Florida’s championship banner.
“It felt great,” Rioux said after the game. “The support from everybody was amazing — my teammates, the fans, everyone. I’m very grateful.”
Though Rioux didn’t touch the ball during his brief debut, his appearance marked a milestone moment in college basketball. Even opposing players couldn’t resist smiling and measuring themselves against the towering Canadian.
“There were people yelling at me at halftime to put him in,” coach Golden joked. “I told them, ‘The time will come.’ And it did.”
At 7-foot-9, Rioux stands two inches taller than former NBA giants Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan, and three inches taller than Yao Ming, Shawn Bradley, and Tacko Fall.
After signing with Florida in 2024, Rioux chose to redshirt his freshman year to focus on training and skill development. Since arriving, he’s become a campus legend, known for ducking through doorways, towering over classmates, and even cutting down basketball nets flat-footed during Florida’s NCAA tournament run.
“He’s put in a lot of great work,” Golden said. “He’s kept a great attitude without getting much playing time. For him to finally get out there — it was pretty neat.”
Teammate Micah Handlogten said the moment was emotional for the entire team.
“I told him, ‘Play with confidence. You’ve worked your butt off for two years to get here. This is your time to shine.’ Seeing him out there smiling was really special.”
Rioux’s debut may have been short, but it made history — and reminded fans everywhere that basketball dreams come in all sizes, especially extra tall.