Introduction
Meet Olivier Rioux — the Canadian college basketball phenom whose towering presence has captured widespread attention. At 7-foot-9, he’s not just tall — he’s in the record books and making waves at the Florida Gators. Yet, despite his size and buzz, he has not yet logged official game minutes. This article explores his weight, parents, wingspan, and the reasons he isn’t playing — giving you an overview of why this rising giant is still on the sidelines.
Weight and Physical Profile
Rioux’s physicality is exceptional. According to his profile, he weighs approximately 305 lbs (≈138 kg) and stands at 7′9″ (≈2.36 m).
While exact wingspan numbers are not definitively published in every source, it’s widely noted that his “massive wingspan” is one of his most unique assets — and a key reason he was looked at for roles beyond just basketball.
To summarise:
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Height: 7′9″ (approx)
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Weight: ~305 lbs
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Wingspan: While no exact number is consistently published, many reports emphasise it being “enormous” and leveraged by coaches for blocking-kicks scenarios.
Parents and Family Background
Olivier Rioux hails from Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada.
His family is tall and athletic:
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Father: Jean‑François Rioux – ~6′8″ and a former volleyball player.
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Mother: Anne Gariépy – ~6′2″, worked at RBC (Royal Bank of Canada).
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Older brother: Émile Rioux – ~6′9″ and played basketball too.
This background highlights how his extreme height may be partly rooted in genetics but also stresses the uniqueness of his 7′9″ frame, especially at a young age.
Wingspan & Unique Advantages
While we don’t have a confirmed precise wingspan figure, here’s what is known:
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Coaches at Florida saw Rioux’s reach and length as a potential special-teams weapon for the football team — specifically to block field goals and extra points.
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Reports mention that his height “landed him in the Guinness World Records” as the world’s tallest teenager.
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The logic: if you have someone whose standing reach is extremely high, he could potentially interfere with kicks that would normally sail over much shorter defenders.
So while we don’t have the wingspan in feet/inches publicly confirmed, his length and vertical reach are clearly standout attributes.
Why He is Not Playing (Yet)
Here are the major reasons behind Olivier Rioux’s absence from official games so far:
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Redshirt Season / Developmental Focus
The Gators coaching staff decided to redshirt him for his freshman year to preserve eligibility and let him develop.
This means: no game minutes now, but more time for training, strength, conditioning, skill work. -
Physical Conditioning and Readiness
With such an unusual body type, transitioning to NCAA-level physical demands takes time. Reports highlight his need to build strength, coordination, and stamina. -
Scheme Fit & Role Definition
Given his height, finding the right role for him is important. The coaches have to consider: how to best use him so that his size is an asset rather than a hindrance (e.g., mobility constraints, matchups with quicker players). -
Special-Teams Experiment (Football Tryout)
Interestingly, Rioux even donned an orange football helmet to work out with the Florida football team — not as a basketball game plan, but as a creative use of his extreme height on special teams.
However, that plan apparently didn’t fully materialise into a football role (see below). -
Performance Limitations / Practical Constraints
For football, though his height is massive, one article noted that his “limited 11-inch vertical leap” made it hard to influence kicks as the coaches hoped.
On the basketball side, high-level competition and his redshirt decision means he simply hasn’t yet been inserted into game plans.
What to Watch Going Forward
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Look for when Rioux makes his on-court debut for the Gators — his redshirt year means he remains eligible and may be used mid-season or the next season.
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Notice how the coaching staff integrate him: will they play him as a traditional big man near the rim? Will they use his height in unique roles (inbound defence, alter-shots, rim protection)?
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Track his physical development: improved mobility, conditioning, coordination will be key to unlocking his potential.
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Monitor whether the football experiment resurfaces in any form — even if just as a novelty, his presence already got attention.
Conclusion
Olivier Rioux stands out not just for his height (7′9″) and weight (~305 lbs) but for the unique athletic possibilities he brings to college sports. With parents who are themselves tall and athletic, and a record-setting stature recognised by the Guinness World Records, his story is compelling.
However, the fact that he isn’t yet playing official games for the Florida Gators is by design — a redshirt season, developmental priorities, and role definition are all factors. His wingspan and height are extraordinary assets, but harnessing them effectively at the collegiate level takes time and thoughtful coaching.
