A photo of CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson and Florida basketball player Olivier Rioux, the tallest teenager in the world, has gone viral.
Redshirt Rioux is not playing any part in the Gators’ run in March Madness but his sheer presence has attracted plenty of attention this season.
The Canadian stands at a staggering 7-foot-9 and is comfortably the tallest player in this year’s NCAA Tournament.
The 19-year-old can touch a 10-foot rim with ease and his unusual height landed him a spot in the Guinness World Record book.
Wolfson, one of CBS’ most recognizable broadcasters, shared a photo on Sunday of her stood side by side with Rioux.
She is 5-foot-2 and barely made it above Rioux’s waist. The difference in their height blew fans’ minds on social media.
Tracy Wolfson’s picture with 7-foot-9 Florida basketball player Olivier Rioux has gone viral
Rioux is not playing any part in the Gators’ run in March Madness but attracts lots of attention
One fan commented: ‘Do they give you these assignments on purpose?’ with a laughing emoji.
Another posted: ‘They need to lend you the ladders they use to cut the nets down’.
‘I’d look the same and I’m 6’3 lol,’ quipped another.
A fourth commented: ‘It’s not the height, it’s how tiny you look’ alongside a laughing emoji.
A concerned basketball fan added: ‘Crazy the best team in the country casually has a 7’9″ Center who hasn’t played all season.’
Rioux is hoping to start earning money from use of his name, image and likeness in the United States.
Rioux has formally applied for an 0-1 visa, which is reserved for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in fields of science, art, education, business or athletics.
There’s precedent for it in the NCAA, which provides limited opportunities for international students to capitalize on NIL while attending college in the U.S.
He’s already a walking viral video; while coaches and teammates climbed a ladder to cut pieces of the nets after Florida won the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Sunday, Rioux was able to do it while standing flat-footed.
‘I feel a bit strange about it because you see a lot of deals happening worth millions of dollars, which I´m like, “Dang, that´s a lot of money”,’ Rioux told The Associated Press. ‘I feel like we´ll be good.’
Florida coach Todd Golden gave Rioux the choice of playing garbage-time minutes as a non-scholarship player this season or redshirting and saving a year of eligibility. Rioux chose the latter.
‘It´s been a process,’ Rioux said. ‘I feel good about it. I feel like I´ve been doing a tremendous job in terms of lifting.
‘Obviously, practicing is a bit different. You´re not playing as much as you want to, but you still got to show up and practice as much as they want me to.’
For now, though, he´s a sizable side attraction. Fans line up to meet him after games, and he´s always willing to pose for pictures or sign autographs.
