World’s tallest teen breaks height record, shoots for NBA dream

The world’s tallest teenager has kept on growing, breaking his own height record.

Eighteen-year-old Canadian Olivier Rioux has measured in at seven feet nine inches tall, or 236cm tall – that’s 2m plus another 36cm!

In comparison, the average Australian man is just over 175cm, or five feet nine inches, tall.

His towering height, and size 20 shoes, has meant Rioux has become very good at playing basketball. Rioux has made plans to play for US college basketball* team the Florida Gators when he finishes high school.

Photos and videos of the teen giant towering over players and dunking* without jumping have gone viral* on social media.

Back in 2021, Rioux was recognised as the world’s tallest teen by Guinness World Records when he was seven feet six inches, or 228cm tall. Last week he broke his own height record.

Guinness stated that tallness ran in the Rioux family.

“With the whole Rioux family being tall, Olivier’s childhood home was updated to accommodate* everyone’s stature*,” Guinness wrote when presenting him with the record.

“Tabletops, and ceilings are all higher than average. The only thing that remains the same is the doorframes, which have seen their fair share of collisions* with the top of Olivier’s head.

“As a child, Olivier spent hours looking through his Guinness World Records books, studying the tallest people, and comparing himself to every record holder. After failing to find someone taller than him in the 2015 and 2016 editions of the books, Olivier was inspired to achieve the title himself and recalls* being ‘emotionally shocked* and relieved that (he) finally got it!’”

Florida’s official men’s basketball website stated Rioux was 6’1” (185cm) when he was eight years old, before growing to 6’11” (211cm) in Year Six. He had already grown taller than seven feet (213cm) before starting Year Seven.

Rioux’s father is 203cm and his brother is 205cm tall.

Last year, Rioux posted a photo of himself towering over Denver Nuggets NBA champion Jamal Murray that was taken when he was just 12 years old. Murray is 193cm tall.

NBA player and Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama has measured in as the tallest player in the league at 224cm.

Other top NBA centres include Rudy Gobert (216cm), Nikola Jokic (211cm), Giannis Antetokounmpo (211cm) and Joel Embiid (213cm).

While taller than any current professional basketball player, Rioux would need a few years playing college basketball to see if he had the skill to be drafted into the NBA.

— With NY Post

POLL

GLOSSARY

• dunking: when a basketball player jumps through the air to put the ball through the basket with one or both hands over the rim, as opposed to throwing the ball through the hoop while standing
• viral: when a social media post is shared by thousands or millions of viewers over a short time period
• accommodate: allow for or fit
• stature: height
• collisions: banging into something
• recalls: remembers
• emotionally shocked: surprised and overwhelmed
• college basketball: a basketball league played between college, or university, teams in the US

EXTRA READING
Ash Barty will return to Wimbledon
‘Talented freak’ breaks into Games
Aussie star’s NBA dream still alive

QUICK QUIZ
1. How tall is the tallest teen in the world?
2. How tall was he when he was eight?
3. How tall was he when he started Year Seven?
4. Who is currently the tallest NBA player?
5. How tall is he?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Height comparisons
Using a tape measure or other measuring devices, measure your height in centimetres. Mark your height on a wall, and put a marking at Olivier Rioux’s height next to it.

What is the difference between yours and Olivier’s height?

Measure the tallest and shortest person in your classroom. Work out the difference between their heights and Olivier Rioux’s?

What would be the advantages and disadvantages of being this tall?

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Mathematics, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Do you think Olivier has stopped growing now?

What happens if he were to continue to grow? Write a funny anecdote or rhyming verse about the boy who kept growing!

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
To sum it up
After reading the article, use your comprehension skills to summarise in a maximum of three sentences what the article is about.

Think about:

• What is the main topic or idea?
• What is an important or interesting fact?
• Who was involved (people or places)?

Use your VCOP skills to re-read your summary to make sure it is clear, specific and well punctuated.