#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.

#WrestleZagreb

Grand Prix Zagreb Open Ten GR Finals Set

By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 30) -- The finals pair at the two-day Grand Prix Zagreb Open are set. The all-Greco-Roman tournament held the qualification and repechage rounds Saturday in all 10 weight categories.

Turkey and Ukraine dominated the day with six and five finalists respectively. Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) managed to reach the final with ease at 72kg and he will face Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) Sunday. 

The final will begin at 1800 hours local time and can be watched at uww.org.

Zagreb Open Finals

55kg
Koriun SAHRADIAN (UKR) vs Denis MIHAI (ROU)

60kg
Viktor PETRYK (UKR) vs Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA)

63kg
Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR) vs Ahmet UYAR (TUR)

67kg
Morten THORESEN (NOR) vs Murat FIRAT (TUR)

72kg
Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) vs Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR)

77kg
Volodymyr YAKOVLIEV (UKR) vs Albin OLOFSSON (SWE)

82kg
Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR)  vs Filip SACIC (CRO)

87kg
Radzik KULIYEU (BLR) vs Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)

97kg
Felix BALDAUF (NOR) vs Mikalai STADUB (BLR)

130kg
Fatih BOZKURT (TUR) vs Osman YILDIRIM (TUR)