Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: The tallest teen on earth

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SALT LAKE CITY — You’ve probably never heard of him, but I’m guessing you will this winter. The boy’s name is Olivier Rioux. 

Olivier Rioux is a French Canadian from Montreal. He just turned 18 years old. He’s about to start college, and he’s the tallest teen on the planet.

 

When asked whether he saw this as a blessing or a curse, he said it was a blessing.

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

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

Doctors tell his family they can’t find anything wrong. His height is just the result of his tall parents. 

The two questions he gets asked the most are, how tall are you? 7′ 9″. For now. The other question… Do you play basketball? Absolutely.

He doesn’t even have to jump to dunk. The kid does it on his tippy toes. And he’s now all moved-in at college where he will play this season for the Florida Gators. He still looks a little awkward, but what a playbook they’ll have at the University of Florida. Throw it to the giant, and he’ll hand the ball to the basket.

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

So tall he could call 7′ 4″ Rudy Gobert… “punk.”

Jeff Caplan is the host of Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News on KSL NewsRadio. Follow him on Facebook and X. 

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