‘We Want Ollie’! 7-Foot-9 Florida Gator Olivier Rioux Finally Debuts, Fans Go Wild

Rioux recognized by Guinness World Records in 2022 as tallest living male teenager

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA — Florida Gators fans finally got a glimpse of the towering figure they had been eagerly anticipating.

Redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux, standing 7-foot-9, made his long-awaited college basketball debut Thursday night during Florida’s 104-64 rout of Northern Florida, officially becoming the tallest player in NCAA history to take the court.

The moment came late in the game, with 2:09 left on the clock, as chants of “We Want Ollie” reverberated through the O’Connell Center. Coach Todd Golden, who had resisted early-season pressure to play Rioux, finally gave the Canadian center his first taste of collegiate action.

“I said, ‘Listen, it will happen, the time will come,’” Golden said. “I can be stubborn. When they’re yelling at me to do it, it’s kinda like, ‘Well, maybe I’ll wait a little longer.’”

Rioux, who had spent the 2024-25 season as a redshirt while Florida captured the national championship, walked onto the court to a standing ovation. Although he logged just two minutes and did not record any statistics, the appearance alone was historic.

“It felt great,” Rioux said after the game. “The support from everybody was amazing, even on the bench and even the fans. I’m very grateful.”

The 19-year-old has been a national sensation since committing to Florida, largely because of his extraordinary height.

Rioux was recognized by the Guinness World Records in 2022 as the tallest living male teenager, standing an inch taller than former college record-holder Paul Sturgess and towering over legends like Yao Ming and Manute Bol.

Golden had offered Rioux the chance to play sparingly last season or use the year as a redshirt campaign. Rioux chose the latter, allowing him to preserve a year of eligibility while still enjoying moments of prominence, including a viral moment cutting down the nets after Florida’s championship win.

“It’s just mental, and you keep going and grind,” Rioux said of his wait.

Thursday’s debut was a team decision, with assistant coach Carlin Hartman escorting Rioux to the scorer’s table and teammate Micah Handlogten offering encouragement. “He’s put in a lot of great work and kept a great attitude without a lot of reward,” Golden said. “The game was in our control, so it was a good opportunity to give him his first college experience.”

As the Gators look ahead to defending their title, Rioux’s debut adds another intriguing storyline. While he didn’t score, fans and teammates alike celebrated the historic moment, marking the start of what could be a remarkable collegiate career.

“It’s another day, I guess,” Rioux said modestly after the game, but for Florida basketball, Thursday night will be remembered for a milestone that literally reached new heights.

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