David Taylor Shockingly Fails to Qualify for 2024 Paris Olympics, Loses to Aaron Brooks in U.S. Trials

In a stunning upset, two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist David Taylor, 33, failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics in wrestling after losing to Aaron Brooks, 23, in the 86kg final at the U.S. Olympic trials held at Penn State University on April 21, 2024. Brooks, a four-time NCAA champion from Penn State, defeated the heavily favored Taylor in two consecutive matches to secure the Olympic spot.

Taylor, known as the 'Magic Man', had been one of the most dominant male wrestlers for the U.S. over the past five years, winning 26 of 27 matches since 2019. He was expected to face his Iranian rival Hassan Yazdani for the gold medal in Paris. However, the U.S. Olympic trials system, where even the most accomplished athletes are forced to earn their place, ultimately thwarted Taylor's hopes.

Brooks beat Taylor 4-1 in their first match, handing Taylor his first loss to an American wrestler in seven years. In the second match, Brooks won 3-1, eliminating Taylor and claiming his spot on the U.S. Olympic wrestling team. "I love Dave," Brooks said after the match. "He was one of the first to make the Penn State wrestling program what it is."

Why this matters: Taylor's shocking loss and failure to qualify for the Olympics is a major blow for U.S. wrestling. As a two-time world champion and defending Olympic gold medalist, he was considered a strong contender to win gold again in Paris. His absence from the Olympic team leaves a significant void and raises questions about the depth of the U.S. men's freestyle wrestling program.

In total, 18 wrestlers made the U.S. wrestling squad on Saturday, with 13 of them qualifying directly for the Olympic tournament in Paris. Other notable qualifiers include Kyle Snyder (97kg) and Kyle Dake (74kg), who will be competing in their third straight Olympics, as well as rising stars like Spencer Lee, who earned a spot despite multiple knee injuries. The trials also saw several young wrestlers such as Kennedy Blades (76kg) and Amit Elor (68kg) earn their first Olympic berths.

After the match, Taylor and Brooks shared an emotional moment on the mat, embracing and exchanging words. The stunning result sends shockwaves

Key Takeaways

• 2-time world champ David Taylor, 33, failed to qualify for 2024 Olympics
• Lost to 23-year-old Aaron Brooks, 4-time NCAA champ, in U.S. trials finals
• Taylor's absence leaves void in U.S. men's freestyle wrestling program
• 18 wrestlers made U.S. team, 13 qualified directly for Olympics
• Emotional moment as Taylor and Brooks embraced after the match