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7-Foot-9 Athlete Olivier Rioux Becomes Tallest Player in NCAA March Madness
Olivier Rioux, standing 7 feet 9 inches, set the NCAA Tournament height record during Florida's 59-point win, sparking viral reactions and crowd chants, officials said.
- With under two minutes left, Florida's Olivier Rioux became the tallest player ever in an NCAA Tournament game and scored a putback dunk in the first-round win over Prairie View A&M.
- Earlier this season, Olivier Rioux, listed at 7-foot-9 and previously 7-7 at age 16 with a Guinness World Record, became the tallest player in college basketball history on December 18, 2025.
- In a 114-55 win, the official crowd of 10,065 erupted when Olivier Rioux entered with about 2:09 left, after playing in 10 games this season.
- Rioux has become a fan favorite, and unless contests tighten, this will likely be his last Big Dance appearance as the Gators face Iowa on Sunday night.
- As a developmental project, Rioux remains focused on improving foot speed while wearing size 20 shoes, and Florida is 11-0 in games he has played.
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7-Foot-9 Athlete Olivier Rioux Becomes Tallest Player in NCAA March Madness
University of Florida basketball player Olivier Rioux is quite literally reaching new heights in the 2026 NCAA March Madness tournament. Rioux, 20, stands tall at 7-foot-9, making him the tallest athlete to ever compete in the tournament, according to The Athletic. Rioux helped the Florida Gators beat the Prairie View A&M Panthers 114-55 during the Friday, March 20, match-up of the competition. Rioux, who plays center for the Gators, is in his s…
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The Washington Post+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
March Madness spotlight shines on Florida's 7-foot-9 center Olivier Rioux
Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left5Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Left
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Left
56% Left
L 56%
C 33%
11%
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