The world's tallest teenager

Editor's Note: This is an editorial. An editorial, like a news article, is based on facts but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.

SALT LAKE CITY — You probably haven't heard of him, but I bet you will this winter. The boy's name is Olivier Rioux.

Olivier Rioux is a French Canadian from Montreal. He just turned 18. He's about to start university and he's the tallest teenager on the planet.

When asked if he considered this a blessing or a curse, he replied that it was a blessing.

“You can use it to be famous, you can use it for basketball, you can use it as the highest shelf in the kitchen.”

Olivier Rioux has the right attitude, especially considering he's nearly eight feet tall…and still growing.

Doctors tell his family that they find nothing abnormal. His height is simply due to his parents' tall stature.

The two questions he gets asked most often are: “How tall are you? 8'11. Right now.” The other question… “Do you play basketball?” Absolutely.

He doesn't even have to jump to dunk. The kid does it on his tiptoes. And he's now settled into college, where he'll play this season for the Florida Gators. He still looks a little goofy, but what a playbook they'll have at the University of Florida. Throw the ball to the giant, and he'll put the ball in the basket.

That's what you can do with a gentle giant.

So tall that he could call Rudy Gobert, who is 7'4″… “punk.”

Jeff Caplan is the host of Jeff Caplan's Afternoon Journal on KSL NewsRadio. Follow him on Facebook And X.

Other news minutes: