Olympic dreams: Mom, family support gold medal jumper in Rio

Olivia Franzese
September 12, 2016
Stephanie Taylor, fourth from left, surrounded by friends, family and son Christian’s coach, Rana Reider, back center, watch Christian Taylor compete in Rio de Janero, Brazil.
Stephanie Taylor, fourth from left, surrounded by friends, family and son Christian’s coach, Rana Reider, back center, watch Christian Taylor compete in Rio de Janero, Brazil. Photo provided

Early in August, after an exhausting nine–and–a-half–hour flight, Stephanie Taylor, director of Diversity and Inclusion for MUSC Health, stepped off a plane in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Far from a typical vacation, Stephanie flew 4,546 miles to watch her son, Christian Taylor, compete in the 2016 Olympics.

Christian was in Rio to defend his title, having won a gold medal in the triple jump, a track and field event, four years ago in the 2012 London Olympics. As his mother and other family members cheered him on, Christian again took home the gold medal for the 2016 Olympic triple jump, making him a back–to–back Olympic gold medalist at the age of 26.

“He always talks about being at the top of the sport and leaving a legacy. To see all of that being realized, it brings just the greatest joy,” said Stephanie of the moment her son won his second gold medal.

As if winning two gold medals in back–to–back Olympics wasn’t hard enough, Christian overcame a potentially career–ending injury to do it.

The high of his first Olympic win was followed unexpectedly by one of the worst challenges he had ever faced in his athletic career. Christian’s take-off leg — the leg that he uses to propel himself forward for every jump — had become seriously damaged from years of strenuous activity.

For most, that could have signaled the end of a career. For Christian, though, it just meant he had another chance to overcome the odds.

After relocating to Europe to live and train with his coach full time, Christian was able to completely switch his take–off leg from his left to his right, after just a year and a half. “What most people don’t realize is how difficult that is. It is comparable to writing with your right hand all of your life, and all of a sudden, having to switch to your left,” said Stephanie.

With a new take-off leg and hunger to win, Christian successfully defended his gold medal title in the Rio 2016 Olympics, while his family watched in awe from the stands.

 

According to Stephanie, Christian has always been naturally athletic, having excelled at football, soccer and golf at a young age. During high school, Christian discovered that he had a passion for track and field, and from there he made the triple jump his full-time sport.

He began competing in collegiate–level events when he was in high school, and he quickly realized that he had what it took to compete internationally. In 2007, Christian became the youngest person ever to win the World Youth Championship title, marking the beginning of his impressive triple jump career.

Christian went on to succeed both athletically and academically, when he earned a scholarship to the University of Florida. “He is truly the standard for being a student–athlete,” said Stephanie. “He takes academics just as seriously as he takes athletics.”

He won several National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournaments for his school before setting his sights on the Olympics. With the 2012 London Olympics quickly approaching at that time, Christian left school in 2011 to allow himself a year of uninterrupted training. Putting in six hours or more each day of training, Christian showed that he came to win — and he won big.

As he has proved time and again, Christian is not like most people.

“I think what sets him apart is when he focuses on an event. For him it is about putting 110 percent into it, because he hates to fail. Failure is never an option for him,” his proud mother shared.

For now, Christian is living and training as hard as ever in Holland. While Stephanie isn’t thrilled that her son lives so far away from her, she continues to be fully supportive of his career. “It was difficult, but we recognized that it was necessary in order for him to excel. He is living his dream, and he’s young — this is the time to do it.”

As for the future of his impressive triple jump career, Christian has big plans. He wants to break the triple jump world record, which currently is held by Jonathan Edwards of Great Britain at 18.29 meters, set during the 1995 World Championships. Christian has a personal record of 18.21 meters, which ranks second on the all–time list.

Stephanie returned home to Charleston as the proud mom of a two–time Olympic gold medalist. She will continue to take part in her son’s Olympic journey for as long as he wants to compete. “He has declared that he wants to compete in 2020 when the Olympics will be held in Tokyo. That means that we’re on this journey for another four years, and that’s pretty exciting for us.”

About the Author

Olivia Franzese