This season has been an absolute whirlwind, thanks to the Magic Man. In a bid to defend his Olympic title, David Taylor failed to secure a spot in Paris. Crushed by the heartbreaking result, he shocked wrestling fans by announcing his retirement from the sport. But the 33-year-old couldn’t stay away from the mat and took on the head coach position at Oklahoma State University. However, he had one more trick up his sleeve. 

The 4x Big Ten Conference champion donned his singlet one last at the 2024 World Wrestling Championships. It’s not every day that wrestlers come out of retirement for a competition. Yet, that’s what made his comeback monumental. His return didn’t emerge from just a need to win. It was fueled by an urge to leave a lasting legacy. The buzz surrounding his contention was as thrilling as ever, but it was also bittersweet watching the legend give his all one last time. However, he did have someone special watch him leave the mat on his own terms.

David Taylor shares a sweet post-retirement moment with his daughter

The Magic Man had a tumultuous run at the World Championships. Even though he finally got to wrestle Abdulrashid Saduleav in his dream match, his campaign nearly came to a screeching halt with a gut-wrenching loss. Yet he dominated in the repechage rounds and beat Kamran Ghasempour effortlessly for a World Championship bronze. An emotional farewell later, David Taylor was spotted spending quality time with his youngest daughter, Birdie Mae Taylor.

It’s no secret that the 33-year-old is a proud girl dad. He often spends time with his daughters after a long training day, having sing-offs or watching movies. In fact, upon her birth, he posted a heartwarming message for the tiny tot that tugged everyone’s heartstrings. The captions read, “As a kid, I envisioned a lot of things, but never thought I would be a dad to 3 beautiful girls.” Understandably, his family would fly over 5,697 miles to watch the Magic Man weave his name into his wrestling legacy. 

As heartbreaking as it is, the Nittany Lion has always given it his all throughout his journey. His first chance to get the spotlight arrived at the 2013 US Open. The wrestler locked horns with Jordan Burroughs for the title. But even though he couldn’t defeat the 2012 Olympic Champion, Taylor walked away as the US Open runner-up. Since then, he has clinched 6 medals in the US Open in the 74 kg and 86 kg categories. 

The Magic Man also bagged 3 gold medals in the 86 kg category at the World Wrestling Championships. He even proved his mettle on the world’s biggest stage during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. His stellar stint at the World Wrestling Championships in Albania was the last time fans witnessed David Taylor on the mat. Even though he couldn’t walk away with the coveted gold, the wrestler left the mat on his own terms, the way he intended to. How does the 33-year-old feel about his whirlwind journey?

The wrestler looks back on the impact he left on the sport

A shock retirement, an unexpected career switch, and a surprise return. This season has been nothing short of a saga for the wrestling community. Even though many couldn’t fathom the Magic Man stepping away the way he did, they found solace in his still seeing him around the circuit as a head coach. Just when they were coming to terms with his announcement, he raised their hopes by making it through the World Trials.

David Taylor’s exciting bout with the ‘Russian Tank’ had fans on the edge of their seats. Yet, a shocking loss made his 2024 campaign look as grim as ever. But he redeemed himself by defeating former World Champion Kamran Ghasempour in the bronze medal match. The Magic Man lingered on the mat for a bit, soaking up all of the cheers before walking off. 

Flo Wrestling caught up with the wrestler shortly after, asking how he feels about the legacy the 33-year-old left behind. “You respect the effort I put in and the way I wrestled. You know I wasn’t just skating by… I was trying to dominate people for a long time,” he confessed. However, he didn’t forget to credit his arch-rival Hassan Yazdani, the only man who defeated the Magic Man in his prime. 

David Taylor reiterated that he appreciated the sport: “I mean, I’ve been a part of these matches where the world stops, and they watch.” This might be the last time he competes on the mat. But having his family watch him as he closed the curtains on his competitive career for good. Wasn’t this the perfect ending for his fairytale journey?