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The former Olympic champion feels the retiring triple jump legend deserves the GOAT tag more than many others following his successful 17-year career.
American sprint great Michael Johnson has termed retiring triple jump star Christian Taylor the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) after he bowed out from the sport on Friday.
Taylor had his final jump at the Holloway Classic in Florida, bringing an end to a storied career that yielded two Olympics gold medals, four world titles and five Diamond League trophies.
Fans have lauded the former world U18 and U20 champion and Johnson feels he is more deserving of the title GOAT than some many other athletes.
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08:38 - 18.07.2024
Christian Taylor: Two-time Olympic champion set for final flight at Holloway Classic
After 17 years of competition Christian Taylor will retire at the Holloway Classic the site of his first major triumph.
“Sometimes people call GOAT for athletes who are barely good,” Johnson posted on X.
“@Taylored2jump is an actual GOAT. There’s no debate. No one can argue this one. Even if you didn’t like him (if you dislike Christian, something’s wrong with you) you’d still say he’s the GOAT.”
Taylor has broken numerous records among them 18.21m, 18.11m, 18.06m, 18.02m and 18.04m.
He rolled back the years at the University of Florida, where he honed his skills and shattered records, by hosting his final appearance at the James G Pressly Stadium.
It was a great farewell as fans turned out in large numbers to witness his last event, having decided to retire at the age of 34, just before the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Taylor won his first Olympics gold in London 2012 before defending it in Rio 2016 and claimed world titles in 2011, 2015, 2017 and 2019 with his technique that involves a sprint down the runway followed by a hop, a step, and a jump into the sand pit, wowing fans.
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