David Taylor‘s status as a wrestling legend is consolidated by his numerous accolades spanning a thrilling career. The Olympic gold medalist sealed his legacy in 2021 after he pinned the reigning World Champion Hassan Yazdani at the grandest stage of them all. With December 5 being his 33rd birthday, Taylor now basks in the last lights of a dying sun. And yet, Taylor remains an icon and role model for those who seek to etch their names on the mat.

NLWC graduate, David “Magic Man” Taylor is one of the most decorated wrestlers to have come out of Penn State. The NCAA Division I Champion’s coming days might not be as enthralling as they used to be. However, Taylor’s achievements will undoubtedly go down in history and here, we will look back at all the honors he’s accumulated during his prolific wrestling career.

The bountiful career of the wrestling icon

During his high school days, Taylor registered a mind-boggling 180-2 record and was crowned the OHSAA state champion four times. His winning ways remained unwavering even as he went to Pennsylvania State University for his college. His college days paved the way for Taylor to become a true American icon. To mark his birthday, the USA wrestling account on X (previously Twitter) shared a post to pay homage to the legend.

His unbelievable record at his college earned him the famous moniker that we all recognize him by now: the Magic Man! As part of the Penn State wrestling team and Nittany Lions member, Taylor won four Big Ten Conference champion titles in four consecutive years. He also bagged two NCAA Division I titles (2012, and 2014) while being the finalist on four occasions. Taylor is also only the third wrestler in history to win the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy multiple times. With a startling 134-3 record, Taylor left Penn State to step into the ring with the big boys.

While Taylor has won three of his four bouts against the Iranian Olympian Yazdani, he believes it’s more than just hard work that gets him across every time. “I’m just so grateful for them, my wife, my amazing support system, my girls“, Taylor said in a recent interview after his latest World Championship title in Belgrade, Serbia.

What’s next for the Nittany Lions graduate?

Taylor has been vocal about looking forward to new challenges. With that in mind, he has hinted that he might delve into the competitive and highly dynamic world of mixed martial arts (MMA) after the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ever since his first World Championship glory in 2018, many fans have imagined how would Taylor fare in the octagon. Well, it seems like the fans will finally find the answer to their curiosity!

Read more: David Taylor’s Boastful NLWC Claim Gains Wrestling Analyst’s Attention as Paris Olympics Stand 246 Days Away

Apart from his life on the mat, David Taylor is also a notable figure in the apparel industry. His line of wrestling gear, labeled as “M2”, is a subtle nod to his nickname from college and is designed in collaboration with apparel giants Adidas.

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