#OffTheMat

A Day in the Life: Olympic champion David Taylor

By Eric Olanowski

PENNSYLVANIA, United States (May 10) --- Olympic champion David TAYLOR (USA) took viewers on a captivating journey through a day in his life as a wrestler — from his intense training regime to his life outside the wrestling hall.

At 11:05, Taylor arrived at ‘K2 Roots’, a business he runs with his wife Kendra in State College, PA since 2017. Taylor dropped in K2 Roots for juice, coffee and to help behind the counter.

Taylor arrived at Penn State University for practice which began at 13:30. He focused on working through some positions, going through drills while wrestling with four-time world champion Kyle DAKE (USA).

The Penn State hall had seven current and former world and Olympic medalists practicing simultaneously. This includes Taylor, Dake, Kyle SNYDER (USA), Thomas GILMAN (USA), Jake VARNER (USA), Cael SANDERSON (USA) and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO).

After practice, at 17:50, Taylor headed home for his birthday party.

After cutting the birthday cake cut, Dake and Taylor moved downstairs to play a game of pool. He explained his brotherly relationship with Dake and his family as they both chase Olympic glory.

For the record, Dake won the pool game.

The day is not done yet as Taylor leaves for the M2 Training Center in State College at 19:10. Taylor created it to help wrestlers learn and achieve their goals on and off the mat. The curriculum, technique, and training are all based on what Taylor has done in the past and what he is doing today as he pursues his international wrestling goals.

He turned coach for young wrestlers, pushing them for practice and techniques like finishing and defending leg attacks.

Taylor is a world and Olympic champion, but there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes which he shares in the video.

#WrestlePlovdiv

Live Blog: U23 European Championships Day Six

By Vinay Siwach

PLOVDIV, Bulgaria (March 12) -- The sixth day of the competition and it's about freestyle. The five weight classes in action Saturday are 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg. Azerbaijan has a strong field and it will look to win the team title with today's performance.

MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE

1315: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) survives a scare against Simon MARCHL (AUT). After leading 2-1 at the break, he manages only two more points while Marchl also scores it. Gadzhiev wins 4-3

1300: Daviti KOGUASHVILI (GEO) reaches the semifinal at 92kg. He wins 13-2 against Abduljalil SHABANOV (AZE)

1230: Emre CIFTCI (TUR) with a strong defensive game to keep Cezary SADOWSKI (POL) away. The Turkey wrestlers managed to win 7-2 and into the semifinals

1215: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) does not give many chances to Menua YARIBEKYAN (10)(ARM) and finishes his 74kg 12-2

1200: Former cadet world champion Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO) had some difficulty against Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT) but manages to win 9-4 in the end

1150: Abakarov begins with a 10-0 win over Hristo ILIEV (BUL). It looked like a warm-up for him.

1135: Don't take your eyes off Mat A. In one bout we will have World bronze medalist Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), former cadet world champion Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO), returning bronze medalist Vasile DIACON (MDA), European champion Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) in back to back bouts.

1130: Welcome to day six of the U23 European Championships. It's the final full day of competition and it's all about freestyle action