Olivier Rioux: The 7-Foot-9 Giant Making History at March Madness 2026

At 7-foot-9, Olivier Rioux doesn’t just stand out on a basketball court—he towers over it. When the Florida Gators freshman center checked into the NCAA Tournament opener against Prairie View A&M on March 20, 2026, he didn’t just make an appearance. He made history .

With 1:54 remaining in Florida’s 114-55 blowout victory, Rioux became the tallest player ever to appear in an NCAA Tournament game . The moment drew one of the loudest ovations of the night from a Florida-heavy crowd at Tampa’s Benchmark International Arena .

This is the story of the Canadian giant who has captured the imagination of college basketball fans across the world.

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How Tall Is Olivier Rioux?

Rioux stands 7 feet, 9 inches (approximately 2.36 meters) and weighs 305 pounds . To put that in perspective:

• He is five inches taller than San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama (7-foot-4)

• The next tallest player on Florida’s roster, Micah Handlogten, is 7-foot-1—eight inches shorter

• When sitting on the bench, he’s still a head taller than everyone else

• Even NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal (7-foot-1) looked ordinary standing next to Rioux in a viral TikTok video

Only Robert Wadlow, who lived from 1918 to 1940 and stood 8-foot-11, ranks taller among recorded humans .

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A Guinness World Record Holder

Rioux’s remarkable height has been turning heads for years. In 2021, at just 15 years old and measuring 7-foot-5, he was officially named the world’s tallest teenager by Guinness World Records .

“My father is 6’8, my mom is 6’2 and my older brother is 6’9,” Rioux told Guinness at the time. “So we’re a pretty tall family! It feels great being the height I am. I love it” .

He admitted that even as a 5-year-old, his height raised eyebrows: “The opposing team would often question my age, because even as a 5-year-old I was much taller than the other kids” .

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A Path That Passed Through Real Madrid

Before arriving in Gainesville, Rioux’s basketball journey took him across the Atlantic. In 2019, at just 13 years old and already 7-foot-2, he spent time in the youth academy of Real Madrid, one of Europe’s most prestigious basketball clubs .

He later represented Canada on the international stage, competing at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland where Canada finished fifth. He also helped Canada earn a bronze medal in earlier international competition .

“It’s my sixth year representing Canada,” Rioux said. “I want to represent my country no matter what. Whether it’s FIBA or Olympics… I like it a lot” .

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Redshirt Year and Delayed Debut

Rioux joined the Florida Gators in the summer of 2024, but his first season was spent as a redshirt—a common NCAA practice where a player sits out a season to preserve eligibility while developing their game .

During that championship-winning 2024-25 season, Rioux watched from the bench as the Gators claimed their third national title . Florida coach Todd Golden determined that the young giant needed time to develop his skills before seeing game action .

“Obviously, you see a highlight here and there, but you don’t see what the person is capable of doing,” Rioux said. “I want to push myself to be able to do that” .

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Breaking Records in 2025-26

When Rioux finally stepped onto the court for Florida’s season opener on November 6, 2025, against North Florida, he immediately made history as the tallest player to ever appear in a college basketball game .

The moment came with 2:09 left and Florida leading comfortably. Coach Golden simply turned to his 7-foot-9 freshman and nodded .

“It felt great. The support from everybody was amazing,” Rioux recalled .

Over the course of the regular season, Rioux added more distinctions to his resume:

• November 21: Became the tallest player to score in a college game (against Merrimack)

• December 17: Tallest player to make a field goal—a dunk against St. Francis

He appeared in 11 games during the regular season, averaging 1.5 minutes per contest and totaling 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist .

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March Madness: The Viral Moment

When Florida drew No. 16 seed Prairie View A&M in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, the stage was set for another historic moment. With the Gators cruising to a 114-55 victory, the crowd began chanting: “We want Ollie!” .

The chants grew louder as Florida’s lead expanded. Teammate Rueben Chinyelu waved his arms, encouraging the crowd to scream even louder .

With 1:54 remaining, Coach Golden finally obliged. Rioux checked in to a deafening roar .

What happened next became one of the tournament’s most memorable moments.

The Dunk

The Gators immediately fed Rioux the ball in the post. He grabbed an offensive rebound and, barely leaving the ground, threw down a powerful two-handed dunk . The bench erupted. The crowd went wild.

“It was a great moment—I got the rebound and then I dunked it—but it’s also a great moment because I hustled, I did my job, and everything else toward the defense was good, too,” Rioux said after the game. “I came to play” .

The Viral Photo

But it wasn’t just the dunk that captured the internet’s attention. When Rioux stepped onto the court, he was matched up against Prairie View’s Hassane Diallo—a 6-foot-8 forward who suddenly looked like a point guard .

The image of Diallo standing next to Rioux, his head barely reaching the Florida center’s shoulder, went viral across social media. Cameras captured Diallo double-taking, seemingly muttering “You big, boy” as he processed the mismatch .

Even at 6-foot-8, Diallo—a giant by normal human standards—looked ordinary next to Rioux .

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Why Doesn’t Rioux Play More?

Given his unprecedented size, many fans wonder why the 7-foot-9 giant doesn’t see more playing time. The answer, according to analysts and Coach Golden himself, is that Rioux is still developing the skills needed to compete at the highest level of Division I basketball .

“He has neither the height, awareness, footwork, nor touch to keep up and meaningfully contribute on an SEC squad,” wrote the popular NCAA Buzzer Beaters account .

Coach Golden has been candid about Rioux’s development path. “I know he’s sitting over there probably like, ‘Damn man, I didn’t know all these guys were coming back,'” Golden told ESPN. “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” .

When asked what aspect of his game he’s focused on improving most, Rioux gave a characteristically direct answer: “Running” .

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The Teammate Everyone Loves

While his playing time may be limited, Rioux’s impact on the Florida program extends far beyond the box score. His teammates speak about him with genuine affection and appreciation for his behind-the-scenes contributions.

“It’s just a great time being with this guy, be it from summertime, grinding with this guy, playing together, trying to get each other better,” said teammate Rueben Chinyelu. “Whatever time, seconds he gets, cherish that” .

Alex Condon, another Florida forward, emphasized Rioux’s value: “He’s a very valued member of our team” .

Thomas Haugh added: “He’s such a good dude off the court, too” .

When Rioux scores, the reaction is unmistakable. “It’s always so fun when Ollie scores because the whole crowd goes crazy and the bench goes crazy,” Haugh said. “It’s pretty special” .

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What’s Next for Rioux?

Florida advanced to the second round with their victory over Prairie View A&M and will face No. 9 seed Iowa on Sunday, March 22 . Rioux is expected to be available, though his minutes will likely remain limited as the competition intensifies.

Looking beyond March Madness, Rioux has made clear his aspirations extend beyond the college game. Representing Canada on the Olympic stage is a goal he’s openly discussed .

Whether his basketball future lies at Florida, another program, or potentially professional leagues overseas, one thing is certain: wherever Olivier Rioux goes, crowds will follow. He is, quite literally, a larger-than-life figure who has turned every appearance into a moment worth remembering.

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Key Facts: Olivier Rioux

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The Bigger Picture

Olivier Rioux’s story is about more than height. It’s about patience, development, and the joy of being part of something bigger than individual statistics. When the Gators feed him the ball and the crowd erupts, it’s a reminder that sports can still produce moments of pure, unfiltered delight.

As Florida continues its pursuit of back-to-back national championships, Rioux will remain the most popular player on the roster—a 7-foot-9 giant who, for a few minutes at a time, makes everyone in the arena feel just a little bit smaller.

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Up Next: Florida vs. Iowa, Second Round, NCAA Tournament. Tip-off scheduled for Sunday, March 22 .