'Magic Man' David Taylor wins thriller to clinch Olympic title

David Taylor scored a dramatic 4-3 victory in the freestyle wrestling 86kg Olympic final at Tokyo 2020 against his arch rival Rio 2016 Olympic champion Hassan Yazdanicharati.

It all came down to the last seconds on Thursday evening with the American trailing 3-2 but Taylor saved his best for last scoring two big point to turn the epic bout around.

Taylor ended proceedings shortly after, sealing a 10-0 victory through technical superiority.

It was the 52nd-consecutive victory for the Nevada-born grappler.

"You've got to want it," Taylor said to NBC. "You've got to want to be here. Olympic champion for the rest of my life."

READ: Five Things you need to know about David Taylor

READ: Iran's 'Greatest' Hassan Yazdani seeks wrestling immortality

READ: How to watch Team USA wrestlers at Tokyo Olympics

David Taylor v Hassan Yazdani

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics has been a particularly long time coming for Taylor.

After an agonising near miss at qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympics, the ‘Magic Man’ bounced back to beat Olympic champion Hassan Yazdani en route to the 2017 World Cup title in Iran.

In 2018, Taylor underlined his superiority over the Iranian with another victory at the 2018 World Championships, which the American went on to win.

But the joy was short-lived. Just months after becoming world champion, Taylor suffered a serious knee ligament injury that would keep him out of the sport for over a year.

In his absence, Yazdani stepped up to claim the 2019 World Championships title.

But on Thursday evening Taylor had the last laugh.

In this way, the coronavirus-enforced delay to the Tokyo Olympic Games came at a good time for Taylor. With an extra year to find form and fitness, the he came roaring back to the mat with a dominant victory at the Pan American Olympic Qualification Tournament.

In 2021, he won the USA Trials final 10-0 to retake his place at the top table of USA Wrestling, and wrestling fans began quietly hoping that Hasan v Yazdani Part 3 could happen in Tokyo.

While the two wrestlers share a unique and intense rivalry, it should also be noted that it is based in respect. Both men were quick to offer their condolences online when the other suffered a major injury.