STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — One of the biggest stars in U.S. wrestling has failed to qualify for the Summer Olympics.
In a shocking development, two-time defending world champion and current Olympic gold medalist David Taylor lost to fellow Pennsylvanian Aaron Brooks at the Olympic Trials on Saturday night, leaving him unable to qualify for the 2024 Paris Games. I will miss it.
Taylor, 33, earned an automatic bye at the Olympic Trials because of his past performance, and he only needed to win two of three matches against Brooks to earn a spot on Team USA. But in the first match on Saturday morning, he weighed in at 86kg and was completely defeated, losing 4-1. And Saturday night's 3-1 loss to Brooks stunned the crowd at the Bryce Jordan Center on campus, where both previously starred.
“He was one of the first people to make this program what it is,” Brooks said. “It was a blessing to be around him and watch him in action.”
Taylor did not pass the mixed zone or field questions from reporters.
It was an almost unfathomable result for the wrestler known to fans as “Magic Man” and arguably the most dominant male wrestler in the United States for the past five years. Prior to this weekend's Olympic Trials, Taylor had won 26 of 27 matches dating back to the beginning of 2019, outscoring opponents by a combined score of 226-19. His only loss came in the 2021 World Championship final against Iranian rival Hassan Yazdani. The two were likely to meet again in Paris, perhaps with the gold medal on the line.
Instead, Taylor became the latest American star to be thwarted by the country's trial system, which forces even the most accomplished athletes to earn their spot.
Only one athlete per weight class from each country can compete in the Olympics.
Ultimately, Team USA's gold medal hopes were thwarted by Brooks, a 23-year-old who just finished his college career with four consecutive NCAA titles.
While Taylor received an automatic bye in the Olympic selection finals, Brooks had to navigate a challenge tournament that barely made it to the point where he faced Taylor in the first place. In his second match on Friday, Brooks defeated Zahid Valencia 7-6 under controversial circumstances. He was on the back foot until the referee awarded Valencia a penalty point for pulling Brooks' singlet in the closing stages.
Brooks said the challenge tournament may have helped, as he already had two matches to win before taking to the mat with Taylor. But Taylor had the benefit of getting all day off on Friday, so he's not so sure.
“We knew in Game 2 that he was going to come out a lot harder,” Brooks said. “There are pros and cons to both. I'm not going to choose one over the other. Use what you have, wherever you are.”
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on social media @Tom_Schad.
