"One last time"- David Taylor gears up for the final tournament of his career at World Wrestling Championships 2024

American freestyle wrestling star David Taylor has expressed his anticipation for his final tournament, the 2024 World Wrestling Championships, before he officially calls time on his amateur career. Taylor is renowned for winning the gold medal in the 86kg at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and thrice at the World Championships.

Taylor couldn’t make the USA roster for the Paris Olympics after losing to Aaron Brooks twice in the best-of-three Final (1-4, 1-3) at the US Olympic Wrestling Team Trials. The 33-year-old was thus unable to defend his Olympic title.

After not making the squad, he announced his retirement from wrestling on May 10 and revealed his new position as head coach of the Oklahoma State program. However, Taylor’s name appeared in the list of athletes for the 2024 USA World Team Trials, indicating that he was making a comeback to the sport.

Following his victory against Zahid Valencia in the best-of-three at the trials, Taylor qualified for the World Wrestling Championships for the non-Olympic weight classes. During the Oklahoma State media day on October 14, he announced that this would be the final competition of his career.

Ahead of his participation at the tournament, David Taylor took to his Instagram to share his excitement for his final competition, adding:

“It has definitely been a unique experience balancing endeavors the past few weeks, but I have never been one to shy from a challenge. One week until I head over to Albania to saddle up one last time.”

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David Taylor reflects on the challenges associated with balancing roles as both wrestler and coach

David Taylor (blue) in action against Aaron Brooks at US Olympic Wrestling Team Trials. (Photo via Getty Images)

David Taylor spoke about the final competition of his amateur career during the Oklahoma State Media Day, in a video uploaded by USA Wrestling (via Oklahoma State athletics).

“Yeah, this is it,” David Taylor on the World Championships being his final tournament (starting at 18:40).

He further talked about the challenges associated with balancing his roles as both a wrestler and coach for Oklahoma State.

"Definitely. I think coming back and wrestling at the trials - I was just talking to my wife about this last night - it was something that I made my mind up that I wanted to do it and I wanted to compete. So balancing everything was a little bit easier at that point. I think between now and the World Championships, it starts to hit you the significance of what you're balancing. It’s a lot. At that point in time, we were still in the summer, we were training hard.”

He added:

“But now, preparing for guys at that level, it just takes more preparation. It takes a little more focus, and focus that takes away from other things. Or if it’s not taken away from something else, it’s just extra stuff that’s on your plate. There’s obviously a lot on your plate being a coach at this program, so I’m excited to compete.”

Notably, the World Championships are scheduled to take place from October 28-31 in Tirana, Albania.