When 7ft 9 meets 5ft nothing

The tallest college basketball player in history just made his debut today, and he absolutely stormed it.

At just 19 years old - 7 ft 9, Olivier Rioux is from Quebec - and they think he hasn’t finished growing yet.

Wowsers!

I think I’d only come up to his thigh - because when I was measured at the doctor’s last week, I discovered I’ve shrunk, again.

(For scale - that’s me in the middle with the late great Aaron Page and another strongman named Tiny. I promise I’m not kneeling.)

(Barely breaking the five-foot barrier at this point, it’s actually getting silly.)

I forget that other people don’t need a step to reach the mugs…

If I’m honest, I actually rather love being a bit on the short side - and there are advantages.

Some things people hate, I’m quite good at.

Burpees, for example. I’m already halfway there, I'm near the ground - I could do those all day.

And the style of dance I love, a 30-year-long obsession that I now teach most days, I’m perfectly built for.

Short legs, low centre of gravity, and a low-slung bottom make spinning a piece of cake (and wiggling).

Also, you probably get away with a little more cheekiness when you’re little.

It made me wonder how often we force ourselves into shapes that don’t fit.

Many of us spend years trying to get better at things we’re not naturally suited to instead of using what we’ve already got.

Our proportions, quirks, temperament, talent and experience - are all resources.

Maybe the trick isn’t becoming well-rounded, but finding the corners where you fit perfectly.

Noticing things we’re naturally good at and the things we do just because we love it - or if money were no object.

Because just as they say there is someone for everyone, there’s also the perfect, hobby, job or place for all of us.  To unlock it, we just have to notice where things feel easy and fun - and lean towards that.

Especially if it doesn’t involve, in my case, getting anything from high up.

p.s. If you’re also under five-foot-something, solidarity. We’ll start a support group. Standing on chairs optional.

p.p.s.  Below a great clip of Olivier Rioux checking into his historic college debut:

Link to watch: HERE