London
13 °C
Manchester
13 °C
Glasgow
Dublin
Belfast
Washington
17 °C
Denver
Atlanta
Dallas
26 °C
Houston Texas
30 °C
New Orleans
28 °C
El Paso
Phoenix
Los Angeles
-1 °C
-8 °C
16 °C
8 °C
9 °C
26 °C
World's tallest teen Rioux sets US college basketball mark / Photo: David Becker - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
World's tallest teen Rioux sets US college basketball mark
Olivier Rioux, a 19-year-old Canadian recognized as the world's tallest teen, has set another record as the tallest player in United States college basketball for the University of Florida.
The 7-foot-9 (2.36m) freshman from Terrebonne, Quebec, was brought onto the court with two minutes and nine seconds remaining in Florida's 104-64 home triumph over North Florida.
Rioux sat out all of last season before making his date with destiny on Thursday night. He came on to the court at the end of a lopsided win after students called to have Rioux make history.
"It felt great. The support from everybody was amazing, on the bench and in the stands," Rioux said. "I'm very grateful."
Rioux never touched the ball during his limited time in the game.
He said it wasn't tough waiting for his first appearance.
"Mentally, you just keep going, I guess," Rioux said.
Asked about setting the height record, Rioux replied with a smile, "Just another day."
S.Maiolo--INP
