Hawak ni Olivier Rioux ang Guinness World Records (GWR) bilang “world’s tallest male teen.”
Una niyang nakuha ang record noong 2021.
Sixteen years old pa lang siya noon, at may taas na 7’ 6” o 228 centimeters.
Eighteen years old na ngayon si Olivier, at nang muli siyang sukatin ng GWR nitong June 2024, ang height niya ay nasa 7’ 9” na o 236 centimeters.
Patuloy pa rin niyang hawak ang GWR sa teen male category.
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Ang size ng kanyang isinusuot na sapatos ay 20 inches.
Mahilig mag-basketball si Olivier, at plano niyang makapaglaro sa National Basketball Association.
Viral ang kanyang videos kung saan makikitang nagda-dunk siya sa harap ng mga kalaro kahit hindi siya tumatalon.
Committed siyang maglaro ng college basketball para sa Florida Gators, ang men’s team ng University of Florida.
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MULA SA PAMILYA NG MATATANGKAD
Ang buong pamilya ni Olivier ay matatangkad.
Aniya sa panayam ng GWR, “We’re still not 100 percent sure why I’m so tall.
“After investigation, doctors could only explain it with the genetics that my family has.
“My father is 6’ 8”, my mom is 6’ 2” and my older brother is 6’ 9”. So, we’re a pretty tall family.”
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Dagdag pa niya, “It feels great being the height I am. I love it.
“I was always taller than the rest of my friends at school or teammates. This is what nature planned for me. I learned to be peaceful and happy about it.”
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PINANGARAP MAKUHA ANG GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS
Ayon sa GWR, kinailangang i-update ang bahay nina Olivier para lang ma-accommodate ang height ng teenager.
“Tabletops and ceilings are all higher than average. The only thing that remains the same is the doorframes, which have seen their fair share of collisions with the top of Olivier’s head.”
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Ibinahagi rin ng GWR na noong bata pa si Olivier ay mahilig itong magbasa ng Guinness World Records books, at ikinukumpara ang sarili sa lahat ng record holder ng pinakamatangkad na tao.
Noong 2015 at 2016, natuklasan niyang mas matangkad na siya kumpara sa mga record holders sa mga nabanggit na taon.
Na-inspire siyang makuha ang record, at naging emotional nang sa wakas ay siya na ang tanghaling tallest male teen in the world.
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BATA PA LANG, MATANGKAD NA
Batay sa datos ng official men’s basketball website ng University of Florida, noong eight years old pa lang si Olivier ay 6’ 1” na ang height niya.
Tumangkad siya sa 6’ 11” noong sixth grade siya.
Pagsapit niya ng seventh grade, ang kanyang height ay lumampas na sa seven feet.
Last year, nag-post si Olivier ng old photo niya noong 12 years old pa lang siya kasama ang Canadian NBA player na si Jamal Murray.
Si Murray ay miyembro ng 2023 NBA champion na Denver Nuggets.
Sa larawan ay makikitang ang laki ng tangkad ni Olivier sa NBA player.
Ang height ni Murray ay 6’ 3”.
Ang NBA Rookie of the Year na si Victor Wembanyama ang kasalukuyang pinakamatangkad na NBA player na may taas na 7’ 4”.
Bagaman at kasisindakan ang height ni Olivier, kailangan pa rin niya ng ilang taon na paglalaro ng college basketball para mahasa at makita ang kanyang skill and athleticism upang maikonsidera siyang NBA draft prospect.
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THE BEST AND WORST THINGS ABOUT BEING SUPER TALL
Bagaman at enjoy si Olivier sa kanyang pagiging matangkad, inamin niyang may advantages at disadvantages din iyon.
“I'm noticed anywhere I go. I enjoy interacting with people that come to see me because every reaction is special.
“It’s an advantage because I see higher—my angle of view is greater than most people. It gives me an advantage during a game.”
Kinakailangan naman umano niyang yumuko tuwing dadaan siya sa mga pintuan.
“Since all the doors are at different heights it is not always easy to avoid them.
“Sometimes I hit my head, and it hurts.”
Challenge din para sa kanya ang maghanap ng mga damit na kakasya sa kanya.
Pero ani Olivier, “I manage!”
SADYANG MAHILIG SA BASKETBALL
Nagsimulang maging mahilig sa basketball si Olivier noong five years old pa lang siya.
At dahil matangkad para sa kanyang edad, “The opposing team would often question my age, because even as a five year old, I was much taller than the other kids!”
Sa ngayon, dahil kilala na siya, wala nang nagtatanong kung ilang taon na siya.
Pero madalas pa rin umano siyang tingnan ng kanyang mga nakakalaro nang may halong pagtataka.
“Often, they just ask a question at the free throw line like, ‘How tall are you?’
“They are impressed to begin with, but that does not make them less physical in the game. They even challenge me more because of my size.”
Bukod sa basketball, mahilig din siyang gumawa ng abstract drawings.
Determinado rin si Olivier sa kanyang future plans.
“I’m aiming for a pro basketball career. I plan to do all it takes to achieve that.
“I also hope that I'll have the opportunity to impact my community, through actions related to the environment.”
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