David Taylor’s decision to pivot back to competitive wrestling mere months after taking the helm as Oklahoma’s head coach turned a lot of heads. However, his decision to return to the mat looked like the wrong one on Wednesday. The former Olympic champion’s loss against the ‘Russian Tank’ Adbulrashid Sadulaev endangered his 2024 campaign, but the 33-year-old bounced back.

After his loss to the eventual gold medalist, the 92 kg wrestler regained his footing with wins over Azerbaijan’s Abubakr Abakarov and Germany’s Lars Schaefle. Although former world champion Kamran Ghasempour posed a formidable challenge, Taylor persevered to cap off a storied career with a World Championship bronze. Following an emotional farewell on the international stage, Flow Wrestling caught up with the ‘Magic Man.’

During their discussion with the U.S. freestyle wrestling legend, Flo Wrestling reminded Taylor of the impact he left on competitive wrestling. Despite their fierce rivalry, even the Iranian fans chanted ‘We love you, David,’ said the reporter. “What does that mean to you?” they asked the Olympic gold medalist. So Taylor gave his take on the legacy that he left behind as a competitor.

“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,” the three-time world champion told Flo Wrestling. However, besides his personal achievements, the 33-year-old also highlighted bringing “a lot of folk style into freestyle.” Taylor also explained why he mixed both styles of wrestling.

“Hopefully, Americans continue doing that, I think we have a big advantage there,” explained the former champion. Weaving in the uniqueness of American-style wrestling helped Taylor remain undefeated for a better part of a decade. However, the Olympic medalist also gave credit to his arch-rival Hassan Yazdani, as he was the only man to defeat Taylor in his prime.

“I mean, I’ve been a part of these matches where the world stops, and they watch… I appreciate the sport,” said the wrestling coach. Although the 3-year-old has closed the curtains on his competitive career for good, he is prepared to restart duties as the Oklahoma Cowboys head coach. After all, they are the reason Taylor went out on his terms.

How Oklahoma State supported David Taylor’s return to competition

If the former Olympic champion intended to compete again, why did he take on the responsibility of being the Cowboys’ head coach? This was one of the main criticisms many fans and experts leveled at the former Pan-Am champion. However, Oklahoma State stood by their new head coach’s decision to compete in the World Championship trials in September.

OSU’s Athletic Director Chad Weiberg publicly announced the University’s support for their head coach to take a shot at world championship glory. While many thought David Taylor’s personal goals would hamper his pupils’ training, Weiberg didn’t agree. “I think it’s a great thing any time that we can put the brand of the program out in the wrestling world,” said the athletic director.

Chad Weiberg also explained that watching their coach compete would only enrich the youngsters of the Oklahoma Cowboys. “It only makes what’s happening in our room better,” he said in support of the highest-paid wrestling coach in the U.S. Now that the 33-year-old is set to return with a World Championship bronze medal in hand, it’s safe to say Weiberg’s faith in Taylor was not misplaced. And while Taylor’s role on the wrestling mat ended in Tirana, Albania, he has the opportunity to shape a new generation of USA’s wrestling champions.