7-foot-9 sensation! World’s tallest teen shocks college basketball in historic Florida win - video goes viral

College basketball history was quietly rewritten in Gainesville on Wednesday night. During a lopsided win for Florida, a late-game moment turned into a record-setting milestone. Olivier Rioux, already known for his extraordinary height, added another first to his growing list of achievements.

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How did Olivier Rioux make college basketball history?

Florida center Olivier Rioux entered the game in the final minute of No. 23 Florida’s 102–61 win over Saint Francis at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Moments later, the 7-foot-9 center delivered a simple dunk that instantly set a new college basketball record, as per a report by Yahoo Sports.


With that basket, Rioux became the tallest player ever to score a field goal in a college game. The Florida bench erupted as the crowd recognized the significance of the moment, even in the closing seconds of a blowout.




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Why is Olivier Rioux already a record-holder?

Rioux’s name has been tied to records long before Wednesday night. He is listed in the Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest teenager. Last season, he redshirted with the Gators before making his on-court debut earlier this year.

His first appearance against North Florida set another mark, as he became the tallest person to ever play in a college basketball game. He later added a free throw against Merrimack before finally recording his first field goal against Saint Francis, as per a report by Yahoo Sports.

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What else happened in Florida’s win?

Xavian Lee led Florida with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Alex Condon contributed 14 points and seven rebounds, while Reuben Chinyelu posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The defending national champions improved to 7–4 and picked up their second straight win after a difficult stretch that included a loss to unranked TCU. Florida will host Colgate and Dartmouth before opening SEC play at Missouri on Jan. 3.


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Olivier Rioux has only logged limited minutes so far and is not expected to play extensively during nonconference action. Still, with one dunk, he has already secured a permanent place in college basketball history.


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FAQs

How tall is Olivier Rioux?

He stands 7 feet 9 inches tall.

What record did Rioux set?

He became the tallest player ever to make a field goal in college basketball.