National World Top Stories Update Thursday 18 December, 2025
A Canadian teenager has made basketball history - after officially being named the tallest teen in the world.
Olivier Rioux, who plays for the Florida Gators, scored with a dunk late in a 102–61 win over Saint Francis on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old Canadian had already made history last month when he became the tallest player to appear in a college game. In 2021, Guinness World Records named him the tallest teenager in the world, when he stood at 7ft 5in tall.
Olivier Rioux of the Florida Gators is setting records in college basketball.placeholder image
Olivier Rioux of the Florida Gators is setting records in college basketball. | Getty Images
Rioux is now 7ft 9in, and is now the tallest player to ever score in college basketball.
The dunk was the centre’s first basket from open play. He had previously scored a free throw against Merrimack on 21 November.
Should the Canadian reach the dizzying heights of the NBA, would he be the tallest player in the league, or simply have his head in the clouds?
Who are the tallest NBA players?
As it stands, Rioux would literally be head and shoulders above the current crop of NBA superstars.
The tallest professional player at the time of publication is 21-year-old Victory Wenbanyama. The Frenchman, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs, stands at 7ft 4in tall.
He is closely followed by Zach Edey - the Memphis Grizzlies centre is 7ft 3in tall - and the 7ft 2in tall trio of Donovan Clingan, Walker Kessler and Kristaps Porzingis.
Not only that, but Rioux would be the tallest player in the history of the NBA. The current record is held by Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan, who were both 7ft 7in tall.
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