A full-circle moment in the life of another sporting legend seems imminent. The Holloway Pro Classic in Gainesville, Florida will be the center of attention for the country’s track and field community this weekend, and long-jump icon Christian Taylor is set to take the opportunity to bid adieu. With the Pais Olympics just around the corner, athletes from all over are gearing up for a major showdown. While the big rumble is obviously the biggest thing everyone’s looking forward to, Taylor’s exit will be a saddening affair.

Understandably, the community isn’t going to let his retirement slide without showing the athlete the appreciation and love he deserves, even more so since Christian’s last performance will happen on the very stage that brought him fame.

Christian Taylor’s illustrious career will be coming to an end

Track & Field Gazette shared the news of Taylor’s intentions in a post on X earlier today. “Christian Taylor to retire at the age of 34 this weekend at the Holloway Classic in Florida,” reads the caption after hailing him as the “Legend” that the two-time Olympic gold medalist is. 

With the University of Florida playing host to the 2024 Holloway Classic, some fans might remember that it was this very track where Taylor first came to the national limelight. In his 1st year with the Gators in 2009, the Georgia native won an NCAA gold medal along with 3 SEC indoor titles. Christian was also instrumental in helping his school bag a 3rd-place finish in the NCAA men’s relay race that year. Naturally, this would be the perfect goodbye set-up, and fans seem to be excited to make the moment a memorable one.

The community chimes in to confirm Christian’s GOAT status, as they salute him goodbye

The track and field fans are shaken and have started making preparations to send Taylor off in style. “The #GOAT,” commented a fan-run account after learning about Christian’s intentions and noting how incredible his career has been. With his personal best of 18.21m in the triple jump, Taylor boasts the second-best all-time record in the event, behind only Britain’s Jonathan Edwards.

A commenter, on the other hand, thinks, “This is way too quiet for a legend,” they wrote, and considering how Christian Taylor is the current American record holder and the benchmark that every triple-jumper hopes to match, we believe this fan has a point.

“One of the greatest to do it!! I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent studying his technique. Congratulations on an amazing career,” commented Alex, a track coach himself. Taylor has competed at the highest levels for 15 years. From his first triple jump gold at the World Youth Championships in 2007 to the 2019 World Championships: it has been a thrilling ride, and Alex is one among the many who have become a fan of Taylor’s prowess over the years.

Another individual, however, is feeling the emotions of seeing the Florida track being the place to see Taylor make his final jump. “The perfect place to say goodbye. THE SWAMP,” noted this fan, mirroring what thousands of other followers are likely to be thinking right now.

More often than not, people fall in love with a sport after watching an enigmatic figure displaying their skills in all its glory. Likewise, for Taylor, his long career has also inspired many youngsters to take up track and field. Referring to how Christian has been a motivation for his track career, another individual commented, “The first athlete I watched when I started with Track and Field. The reason why I started,” as he wished the Olympian a happy retired life ahead.

Are you also an admirer of Christian Taylor’s career and legacy? How are you feeling now that his professional days are reaching their end? Tell us in the comments!