🏀 Olympic Giants - 7 tallest players in the Olympic Games
At the Olympic Games, sport reaches its highest levels… literally.
Basketball has always been the domain of giants, but only a select few have reached the level of representing their country on the biggest stage in the sporting world. In this post, we review the 7 tallest players in history to have participated in the Olympic Games , from NBA legends to current rising stars.
And of course… how would COBI compete against these titans? Spoiler alert: it would probably need a ladder.
🏆 TOP 7 TALLEST PLAYERS IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES
🥇 Yao Ming – 2.29 m
- 📍 Born: 1980, Shanghai (China)
- 🏀 Teams: Shanghai Sharks (CBA), Houston Rockets (NBA)
- 🥇 Olympic Games: Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008
- 🎯 Key fact: He was China's flag bearer twice and led his team as an absolute idol. The most iconic giant of the modern Olympic era.
🥈 Victor Wembanyama – 2.24 m
- 📍 Born: 2004, Le Chesnay (France)
- 🏀 Teams: Metropolitans 92, San Antonio Spurs (NBA)
- 🥇 Olympic Games: Paris 2024
- 🎯 Highlight: The most anticipated player of this generation. His Olympic debut has been one of the most watched of the tournament. At only 20 years old, he already commands more respect than many veterans.
🥉 Ralph Sampson – 2.24 m
- 📍 Born: 1960, Virginia (USA)
- 🏀 Teams: Houston Rockets (NBA), All-Star NBA
- 🥇 Olympic Games: Atlanta 1996
- 🎯 Highlighted fact: One of the most dominant players of the 80s, Olympic champion and Hall of Fame member.
4️⃣ Georgios Papagiannis – 2.17 m
- 📍 Born: 1997, Marousi (Greece)
- 🏀 Teams: Sacramento Kings (NBA), Fenerbahçe, Panathinaikos
- 🥇 Olympic Games: Paris 2024
- 🎯 Key fact: A key part of the new Greek Olympic team, with a strong presence in defense and inside play.
5️⃣ Rudy Gobert – 2.16 m
- 📍 Born: 1992, Saint-Quentin (France)
- 🏀 Teams: Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA)
- 🥇 Olympic Games: Paris 2024
- 🎯 Highlight: Three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. A wall in the paint and one of the leaders of the French national team.
6️⃣ Fernando Romay – 2.13 m
- 📍 Born: 1959, A Coruña (Spain)
- 🏀 Teams: Real Madrid, Zaragoza, OAR Ferrol
- 🥇 Olympic Games: Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984
- 🎯 Highlight: The tallest Spaniard to participate in the Olympics until the Gasol brothers. Historic silver medal in Los Angeles against the USA.
7️⃣ Joel Embiid – 2.13 m
- 📍 Born: 1994, Yaoundé (Cameroon)
- 🏀 Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
- 🥇 Olympic Games: Paris 2024 (with USA)
- 🎯 Key Fact: One of the best centers in the world today. A naturalized American citizen, he's making his Olympic debut with Team USA.
🐾 And Cobi?
Our beloved COBI measures just 20 cm of solid PVC… but in Olympic enthusiasm, nobody can beat him.
If I were a basketball player, I'd probably be practicing three-pointers from the bench, or cheering like the best mascot in the tournament!
These giants stood out not only for their height, but for representing the Olympic spirit: competing at the highest level, no matter where you come from or how tall you are (literally).
And you, which of these giants do you think would be able to score without jumping?
👉 Relive the Olympic greatness with COBI, the mascot that made history in Barcelona 92.
Discover our official collection HERE