David Taylor explains reason behind crushing loss to Abdulrashid Sadulaev at World Championships 2024

David Taylor claimed he was unable to capitalise on his chances in the opening round fight against Abdulrashid Sadulaev at the 2024 World Wrestling Championships. The Olympic champion suffered a heavy 7-0 loss to the Russian wrestler after challenging him for a fight four years ago.

Taylor had challenged Sadulaev for a fight in 2020 after calling him out on social media. However, the fight didn't materialise with one of the reasons being the different weight categories they were competing in.

Both wrestlers won the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Taylor in 86Kg and Sadulaev in 97kg. They didn't compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and while the American had retired afterwards, he decided to come out and fight Sadulaev at the 2024 World Wrestling Championships.

It wasn't to be at the end for the three-time world champion as he suffered a 7-0 defeat to the Russian in the opening round. The 33-year-old unleashed his attacking play but couldn't take down Sadulaev. Speaking with the media after the fight, Taylor blamed his inability to convert his chances to score for the loss.

"I did not score on the two times I shot and he did. That was the difference. I needed to score on those two occasions," he said (via United World Wrestling)

Taylor is out of the race for the gold and silver medals now. He will be pulled back into the repechage if Sadulaev qualifies for the finals, giving him a chance to end his career with a fifth World medal.

"I expect him to make the finals and come back tomorrow. I need to wrestle better that is my focus for now," David Taylor added.

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David Taylor will aim for coaching legacy after 2024 World Wrestling Championships

Wrestling Senior World Championships Belgrade 2023 - David Taylor in action (Source: Getty)

David Taylor was one of the favorites to make it to the U.S. Olympic Team but was beaten by NCAA Champion Aaron Brooks at the Olympic Trials. He was announced as the head coach for the Oklahoma State Wrestling team in the coming weeks and later confirmed his retirement as well.

The 33-year-old found a calling for competitive wrestling while doing workouts with students, which was further fueled by Abdulrashid Sadulaev's participation in the World Championships. He confirmed his participation in the event earlier this month, also confirming that he would return to coaching after the Championships.

Taylor's Oklahoma State will start their season on November 15 against Utah Valley. With several big names in the squad, the 33-year-old would hope to lift his first NCAA trophy as a coach. He won two during his collegiate career at the Penn State.