Florida center Olivier Rioux enjoys Final Four experience from record-breaking

• Myron MedcalfApr 3, 2025, 02:10 PM ET Close Covers college basketball Signed up with ESPN.com in 2011

• Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato

At 7-foot-9, Florida Gators redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux is the world’s tallest teen, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. He’s likewise a first-year college basketball player who is enjoying his team’s run to the Last 4, even though he will not participate.Editor’s Picks

“It’s amazing,” stated Rioux, who is from Quebec, Canada. “I think it belongs to the dream for everyone in the sport, and it’s amazing for me to be a part of this.”

But Rioux is also preparing to complete for the Gators in the future. He enjoys his battles against Rueben Chinyelu, the 6-foot-10 Florida standout. To contend versus Florida’s leading athletes, however, Rioux needs to consume a massive amount of food for his record-breaking frame.

Olivier Rioux, who stands at 7-foot-9, says he consumes about 6,000 calories to maintain his frame. Michael Hickey/Getty Images

“It’s 3 meals. Yeah, it’s 3 meals and 2 plates,” Rioux told ESPN on Thursday. “It has to do with 6,000 calories.”

Although he will not be on the court when Florida faces the Auburn Tigers on Saturday in the Final 4, he is perhaps the most popular player on the roster. Often, it’s even challenging for Rioux to get to his classes due to the fact that he’s inundated with photo requests.But he’s discovering to manage the buzz connected to walking on a college school as one of the tallest people on the planet. “Well, I’ve learned how to state no, “Rioux said.” Undoubtedly, you have actually got to be respectful and all that, but I have actually discovered how to say no. Clearly, you have actually got to say yes to kids, 100 percent.”