Grief has a way of revealing who stands by you when the world falls apart. For Kyle Dake, losing his father became a shared struggle with David Taylor, who supported him as the Paris Olympics loomed. “This is the first time I had to do this without him,” said the 33-year-old champion, reflecting on the emotional weight he carried. Just nine days after his father’s passing, Dake secured his spot on Team USA in the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials, winning the 74kg freestyle weight class in State College, Pennsylvania. 

Despite his impressive victories, including convincing wins over Jason Nolf, Dake’s grief was evident. “It’s pretty hard for me. My dad passed away last week,” he shared with Olympics.com, his words revealing the heavy burden behind his triumph. Now, this five-time World Champion will join seasoned Olympians like Helen Maroulis and Kyle Snyder in the quest for gold. Throughout these challenging times, David Taylor stood by Dake, sharing in the emotional journey as they both prepare for the Paris Olympics.

Kyle Dake’s emotional struggle: David Taylor’s support before Paris

In an interview with the NY Times on August 8, 2024, David Taylor shared insights into Kyle Dake’s emotional journey after his father passed away in April. Just nine days after Doug Dake’s death, Dake had to step onto the mat for the Olympic trials. Taylor encouraged him, saying, “Man, I just want you to win Paris.” Their rivalry is well-known, with both athletes fiercely competing for glory. But now, their journey has forged a strong friendship. After Taylor’s own competitive wrestling career came to an abrupt end with a loss at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials in April, he did not want the same for Dake. So, he stepped forward to support him in this crucial moment.

Tears flowed, pain and emotion were raw, and then Kyle Dake’s hand was raised. “I was just trying to be there for him any way that I could,” David Taylor said with deep sadness. He further added that during training, he was there to provide full mental support, and they rarely talked about wrestling. Since Doug had been a significant part of Dake’s journey, Taylor made sure to motivate him to stay strong.

He would console Kyle Dake, saying, “There’s nothing more that your dad would want than for you to go out and win the Olympics this year.” This displayed how humanity always rises above professionalism, and Taylor proved it once again. After facing off on the mat for many years, they even decided to open a business together by introducing a wellness club. Even, Taylor flew to Colorado Springs for one final training session with Dake before the Olympics. After being named the new head wrestling coach at Oklahoma State University, David Taylor and Kyle Dake are now navigating their storied relationship in new ways.

The longtime rivals and friends find themselves on opposite sidelines as Dake chases Olympic glory in Paris while David Taylor focuses on building new programs for Dake’s wrestling preparation. Success in the Paris Olympics could help ease the lingering grief of Dake’s recent loss while also furthering his already brilliant career. Regarding Dake’s preparation, Taylor told The Athletic, “Kyle’s mind is fresh and he’s hungry,” Taylor said. “It’s something that’s been driving him for a long time,” indicating that he is ready to compete in the upcoming events at the Paris Olympics. 

David Taylor and Kyle Dake: A bond, beyond the mat

David Taylor and Kyle Dake’s relationship has always been marked by intense competition. They’ve pushed each other to new heights on the mat. But their bond has grown beyond rivalry, strengthened by personal struggles off the mat. Kyle Dake reflected on this, saying, “Every time I would be with him, I was with him a lot, he would always say, ‘Hey, how’s practice going? Who did you wrestle with today?’” Dake, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist, noted that Taylor had been a big part of his journey. After his father’s passing, Dake felt a significant void, yet his friendship with David Taylor only grew stronger during this difficult time. Throughout his storied wrestling career, Taylor has shown himself to be among the fiercest competitors in the sport, possessing the uncanny ability to pin opponents like Kyle Dake in the blink of an eye.

Both wrestlers have enjoyed illustrious careers, though they cannot truly be called opponents as Kyle Dake specializes at 74 kg while David Taylor competes at 86 kg. However, their paths did cross in collegiate competition during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. As a Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler at 165 pounds, Taylor established himself as a dominant force. Meanwhile, Kyle Dake proved himself as one of the best ever to compete for Cornell, pinning opponents with ease at 157 pounds. Though they never faced one another at the NCAA Championships, their talents were evident for all to see during those memorable years. 

Even though they competed against each other for a long time, Doug once said to The Win Wrestling Insider News Magazine about their friendship, “They always got a long. They seemed to be good kids who saw things the same way.” So, David Taylor’s selfless support for Kyle Dake shows that this bond remains strong. Taylor has been there for Kyle Dake, and Dake has been quick to praise Taylor. After a Hollywood photoshoot, Dake referred to him as “King of the Castle,” indicating Taylor’s stellar wrestling career. Now, after all this, the question remains: Will Kyle Dake deliver his best performance and claim gold this time as a tribute to his father, or will his emotional moments take a toll on his performance? Let’s see!