David Taylor addresses 'retirement' claims and shares his reason for not leaving his shoes on the mat at the World Wrestling Championships

Former Olympic champion David Taylor competed for one last time at the Wrestling World Championships 2024. The three-time world champion won his final international bout at the World Championships and bagged a bronze medal at the World Championships held in Tirana, Albania.

The American wrestler surprised everyone by not leaving his shoes on the mat as a symbol of his retirement. In a recent conversation with Flo Wrestling, the American opened up about his gesture of not leaving the shoes on the mat and addressed the rumors about his retirement.

"I mean obviously I know it's something that wrestling's always done. I think people kind of, they predetermine it and a lot of times they go out losing, knowing that's when they're going to put their shoes on the mat. And my focus was wrestling you know and I think everyone knows the respect that I have for the sport I don't think I needed to leave my shoes on the mat but I appreciate the moment out there."

Taylor also mentioned why he thought he had a lot more to give to wrestling, and his time is not over yet.

"I just felt like, I mean it was it, yea you know, and I also think retirement, it's like, I'm not done wrestling. I'm not done wrestling, I'm done competing. My time competing is done but my time in wrestling (isn't). My shoes (are) going to be on on Monday in the practice room helping these next guys.”

After his retirement from competitive wrestling, David Taylor will take on the role of head coach at Oklahoma State University. Taylors will be replacing John Smith, who is also a former Olympic champion and the only international wrestler to have successfully defended his Olympic title in freestyle wrestling.

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David Taylor's performance at the World Wrestling Championships

David Taylor in action [Image for Representational Purposes] [Image Source : Getty]

David Taylor performed for one last time at the World Wrestling Championships, held in Tirana, Albania, from October 28 to October 31.

However, the American wrestler suffered a major jolt in the very first round itself. Two-time Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia pummeled him by 7-0 to proceed to the pre-quarterfinals, knocking Taylor out of contention for a gold medal in his last international bout.

However, it wasn't over yet for the American wrestler. Sadulaev did not lose a single bout in the runup to the finals, allowing Taylor one more shot at the coveted podium.

The 34-year-old wrestler grabbed it with both hands. He defeated Abubakr Abakarov of Azerbaijan and Lars Schafle of Germany by 3-1 and 11-1, respectively. For the bronze medal, Taylor faced Kamran Ghasempour of Iran, who had previously won the World Championship in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The American grappler defeated his Iranian counterpart by 6-2 to win the bronze medal.

David Taylor has been one of the most successful American wrestlers of all time in 86 kg. freestyle wrestling. Though he made his freestyle debut in 2012, it was in 2018 that he made his presence felt on the international stage with a gold medal at the World Wrestling Championships in 2018. Since then, Taylor has won 2 more gold medals, apart from a silver medal in 2021 and the bronze medal he won this year.