Olivier Rioux recently gained attention during the SEC Tournament when he effortlessly cut down the net without using a ladder, a task typically requiring assistance for most players.
Highlights
- Olivier Rioux gained attention for his tall stature and is an anticipated player of the Florida Gators for the upcoming season.
- Olivier Rioux’s father, Jean-François, is a photographer, and his mother works at the Royal Bank of Canada.
- Rioux’s sports discipline is influenced by his father, a former volleyball player.
On March 16, 2025, the Florida Gators men’s basketball team clinched the Southeastern Conference (SFC) Tournament title by defeating the Tennessee Volunteers by 86-77.
Florida won the title, its fifth-ever and first since 2014. The victory secured them a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
Off the court, the Gartor’s 7-foot-9 freshman center, Olivier Rioux, continues to capture attention. He recently made headlines after Florida’s SEC championship win by cutting the net without assistance.
7'9" freshman Olivier Rioux didn't need a ladder to cut the net 😂 @GatorsMBK pic.twitter.com/UW2sEZUfZP
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) March 16, 2025
NCAA and basketball fans are astonished by the sight, and Olivier Rioux being with the Gators is a win for the team. One of the X (formerly Twitter) account tweets,
Hear me out… Florida has reserved this dude until March madness. Olivier Rioux is 7’9”…. He’s going to come out of nowhere, avg 40 points and 25 rebounds. Florida wins every game by 20+
Mountain Peak Bets
19-year-old, Olivier Rioux committed to play college basketball at the University of Florida in 2024. As of March 2025, Rioux has not appeared in any of the Gator’s 2024-25 season games.
After the team’s fourth game, head coach Todd Golden mentioned that Olivier was being redshirted for the season.
Once Rioux debuted in college basketball, he would be the tallest player in college basketball history.
Olivier Rioux Is Raised By His Father, Jean-François Rioux, Photographer, And Mother, Anne Gariépy, A Bank Associate
Olivier Rioux was born in Terrebonne on February 2, 2006, to his father, Jean-François Rioux, and mother, Anne Gariépy.
Rioux’s father, Jean, specializes in estimation, coordination, and management systems at SupremeX Inc. He has been associated with the company since September 2023.
Similarly, Jean worked as a photographer at Jeff Photo in the Montreal region of Canada from 2019 to 2024.
Furthermore, he worked as a solution creator at Le Sextant Inc. from 2001 to 2013. Jean-François was responsible for significant accounts across Canada, the USA, and Australia as an account executive
Olivier Rioux’s father attended Ahuntsic College and started his professional journey as an Estimator for Lancaster Datamark.
On the other hand, Olivier Rioux’s mother, Anne Gariépy, is a senior associate at the Royal Bank of Canada. She is in charge of client services and account operations.
Anne has been with RBC Wealth Management since 2004 and joined Lajarrige Group in 2013.
Furthermore, Olivier Rioux’s mother has completed a bachelor’s degree in business administration (finance) at UQAM.
Moreover, Olivier Rioux’s family background could explain his tall stature. His mother is 6 foot-2, and his father is 6-8.
Furthermore, his father is a former volleyball player, influencing Olivier Rioux’s athletic development and discipline.
Additional Information
- Olivier Rioux has an older brother, Emile Rioux, who plays basketball. Both of the Rioux brothers played for multiple Canadian AAU teams.
- Rioux first represented Canada at youth level during the 2021 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Mexico.
