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The chants started early and only grew louder: “We want Ollie!” By halftime, fans at the O’Connell Center were practically begging Florida coach Todd Golden to let 7-foot-9 center Olivier Rioux take the court.
With just over two minutes remaining in Florida’s 104–64 rout of North Florida, Golden gave in — and history was made. Rioux, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman from Canada and officially the world’s tallest teenager, became the tallest person ever to play college basketball.
“It felt great,” Rioux said afterward. “The support from everybody was amazing — my teammates, the fans, everyone. I’m really grateful.” Asked about his record-breaking moment, he smiled and shrugged: “It’s another day, I guess.”
Even the opposing team couldn’t help but be amused. North Florida forward Trey Cady, standing more than a foot shorter, grinned as he lined up against the towering freshman.
“People were yelling at me at halftime to play him,” Golden said. “I told them, ‘Relax — the time will come.’ And it did.”
Rioux stands two inches taller than former NBA legends Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol, and three inches above Yao Ming, Tacko Fall, and Shawn Bradley. Already a Guinness World Record holder before arriving in Gainesville in 2024, Rioux spent last season redshirting — choosing development over early playing time.
In the meantime, he’s become something of a campus celebrity: videos of him riding a bike, ducking through doorways, and effortlessly cutting down nets during Florida’s tournament run routinely go viral.
“He’s put in a lot of work,” Golden said. “He’s stayed patient and positive even without much playing time. That’s not easy for anyone — especially when everyone knows who you are.”
Golden had made it clear Rioux would play only in late-game blowouts, given Florida’s experienced frontcourt. Still, Rioux embraced the challenge of practicing against veterans like Alex Condon and Micah Handlogten, waiting for his chance.
That moment finally came Thursday night. As Golden waved him off the bench, the crowd erupted — the loudest cheer since Florida unveiled its championship banner before tip-off. Rioux stripped off his warmup shirt, checked in, and instantly stole the spotlight.
Each time the ball came near him, fans roared. He didn’t score, but his presence was enough to electrify the building.
“So much fun,” Handlogten said. “Before he went in, I told him, ‘Play with confidence — you’ve worked two years for this.’ Seeing him out there smiling, running the court — that was special.”
For Rioux, the moment was short but unforgettable. And for the record books, it was monumental.
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