David Taylor, a four-time state champion and two-time NCAA champion, now a three-time world champion

David Taylor, a 2009 Graham High School graduate, won a world wrestling championship in the 86-kilogram freestyle final Sunday in Belgrade, Serbia.

Taylor, 32, was a four-time state champion at Graham and a two-time NCAA champion at Penn State. He’s now a three-time world champion. He won titles in the same weight class in 2018 and 2022.

“I’m the most dynamic, dominant wrestler the sport has ever seen,” Taylor said in an interview shared by Flo Wrestling on social media. “I truly believe that. Say whatever you want to about championships, I’m out there scoring the most points I possibly can at every single level. That’s something I want to be remembered for.”

Taylor pinned Hassan Yazdani, of Iran, in the final. Taylor also beat Yazdani to win the gold medal at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2021.

“I just think the fact that I’ve had to go through (Yazdani) every single time I stepped out there says speaks volumes,” Taylor said, “because without me that guy’s winning every single one of these for forever.”

Taylor will attempt to qualify for the Summer Olympics next year in Paris. The trials will be held at his alma mater, Penn State, in April.

David Taylor 🇺🇸 pins Hassan Yazdani and earns his 3rd World title! Making the series between them 5-1 pic.twitter.com/X0d1iP3fXL
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) September 17, 2023