Montreal –

I knew Olivier Rioux was 7-foot-6 in fact.

I had examine him and watched viral clips of him taking part in on the basketball courtroom with a lot smaller teammates. I had spoken to his father many occasions about how their youngest son continued to shock everybody along with his continuous progress. I requested what it was wish to have a member of the family within the Guinness E book of World Information and what it was like managing a 17-year previous’s schedule round a surge in media consideration.

I assume I simply did not notice what it will be like to face beside somebody 7-foot-6? I used to be in awe.

I am 5-foot-4 against this. My complete life has been seen from this angle. Life is sort of designed for folks between 5 and 6 toes actually. Automobiles, beds, doorways, home windows avenue indicators, even the peak of tree branches alongside a sidewalk. One thing I hadn’t even thought of till we walked by means of the center of Montreal with Olivier and I watched him duck continually as a result of the branches stored hitting his head.

7-foot-6 is uncommon. Solely six different gamers within the NBA have reached this top and Olivier Rioux is formally the “Talliest Teenager within the World”, based on Guinness, and nonetheless seems to be rising. Medical doctors thought he would possibly hit 6-foot-5 however they have been off, by quite a bit. He comes naturally; his total household is tall. His father is 6-foot-8 his mom is 6-foot-1 and his older brother is 6-foot-9.

Olivier can also be wholesome. He has had minor accidents alongside his progress chart however he is taking part in excessive depth basketball year-round, so with athletics come accidents. He smiled quite a bit, and once I met him, this instantly warmed us to his light disposition.

Over the course of 4 months, I might have seen Olivier 4 occasions in 4 cities. I needed to have an actual perspective of what it was like navigating life at this top. What struck me was his persistence, his kindness in the direction of strangers, and his consolation in his personal pores and skin.

Olivier performs basketball for Workforce Canada, Workforce Quebec, and is a scholar athlete at IMG Academy in Florida. He’s a spectacle on the courtroom even amongst different very tall gamers. Ignoring the gawking consideration and specializing in his recreation was evident once I watched him play on the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer season Video games.

A number of issues caught out. Olivier usually wants to take a seat on two chairs when he is aspect courtroom between rotations in video games or apply. He is merely that large. His footwear are large, dimension 20, even standing in a line of ballers, this stands out. And, when Olivier excessive 5’s teammates, he must decrease his hand. Olivier by no means has anybody to “excessive” 5. I believe that might be onerous.

Hanging out with Olivier at his house was refreshing. A typical teenager, he got here downstairs after sleeping in, he needed to make us a banana oatmeal omelette he had perfected after watching a cooking clip on TikTok. As he walked round his kitchen it was straightforward to see the advantages of his excessive top. All of these excessive cabinets most of us both do not use or want a chair to succeed in, he used ceaselessly and with ease.

He frolicked casually along with his older brother, confirmed us his sketches and graphic designs, he loves artwork.

We instructed him about how we actually needed to introduce him to a different tall NBA participant and some months later we did that. In Chicago, connecting Olivier with Canadian basketball icon Invoice Wennington was particular. Wennington gained three NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls within the 1990’s with the dynasty that included Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.

Olivier had by no means been to Chicago, he hadn’t been to an NBA recreation and he undoubtedly hadn’t met one other 7-foot-tall legend. For 2 days Invoice Wennington and Olivier had an opportunity to check their distinctive footprints in sport and in life. Within the stadium a whole lot approached Olivier for footage and requested how tall he was and if he was within the NBA. He took all of it in stride, an enormous one.

And whereas strangers approached Olivier and Invoice on the courtroom earlier than and after the sport, Olivier simply needed to get an image with the Bulls Mascot –- they have been about the identical top.

The longer term is huge open for this 17-year-old. His eyes are set on NCAA hoops and at IMG Academy in Florida he has an unimaginable alternative to be taught and prepare at his finest. On campus, everybody is aware of Olivier and his faculty pals and teammates do not ask him for footage or how tall he’s, he is slot in with no spectacle. You’ll be able to really feel the exhale from him there.

I did not take a single image with Olivier till the top of filming and when Kirk our director of pictures and I mentioned our goodbyes and after the fist pumps and finest needs, he mentioned let’s get an image with the Florida palm timber. I mentioned okay, only one, and made certain we have been all sitting down, I needed this one to be about us, and never the peak