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The world’s tallest teenager, 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, plans to redshirt at Florida this season

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The world’s tallest teenager might have to wait a year to become the world’s tallest college basketball player. Florida coach Todd Golden says Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 freshman who owns a spot in the Guinness record book, is planning to redshirt. Had he played in even one game, he would have burned one of his seasons of eligibility. Instead, the 18-year-old Rioux will spend the rest of the season honing his skills. He will still be a freshman next fall. Florida students chanted for “Oli” in the final minutes of a victory over Grambling State on Monday as Golden emptied the bench. But Rioux remained seated.

News Sports

Caeleb Dressel looks to end Olympic swimming career by racing ‘splash-and-dash’ event in LA in 2028

Gold medal swimmer Caeleb Dressel is already making plans for the next Olympics. The 28-year-old Dressel says he would like to end his competitive career racing the 50-meter freestyle in Los Angeles 2028. He says it “has always been one of my dreams to compete on American soil at a championship meet.” Dressel was at Daytona to serve as an honorary official for NASCAR’s Cup Series race. He has nine Olympic gold medals and one silver. He won the 50-meter freestyle in Tokyo in 2020, but finished sixth in Paris after taking a year off. He brought home three relay medals.