Christian Taylor and the Need to Win

By Scott Bush

2012 was a golden year for former University of Florida standout Christian Taylor. The triple jump specialist came up huge at the London Olympics, besting a strong field while bringing home a gold medal, all at the age of 21. In 2013, he won the Diamond League title, putting up big-time performances the entire season, but failed to win a medal at the World Championships. Two years removed from his Olympic triumph, Taylor has his eyes set on a big 2014 season, which gets underway on April 3 at the Florida Relays.

With the outdoor season officially here, we caught up with Taylor this week, discussing a wide variety of issues, including his current fitness, what he learned from his fourth place finish at the IAAF World Outdoor Track and Field Championships last summer, his UK training base and his surprising pre-workout ritual.

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Scott Bush (SB): It's been a quiet 2014 for you, thus far. How are things going? How's training and your current level of fitness?

Christian Taylor (CT): All is great on my end. I just finished watching World Indoors and found myself officially recharged and eager to take on the outdoor season. My fitness level is far ahead of any other year and I believe this will be reflected on the track. I've done more endurance training. Working on getting a more solid base that will carry me through the entire year and hopefully kick-start the fall training for next year.

SB: The outdoor season is finally here, or at least will start getting underway in the next week or two. What can we expect from you this season? What are your goals and where will you be opening up?

CT: The outdoor season is finally here and is very exciting to think about. My plans are to open the season with a 400m and 4x4 at Florida Relays, April 3. It has been a while since I have run the quarter but has always been a passion of mine. God willing, I will be able to improve on my old times, but I understand that I have to be patient and find that groove. There may be some dust on the sprint spikes but I believe I will find that groove quickly.

SB: At this point in the season, what does a typical week of training look like?

CT: At this time, the main focus is staying healthy. In the last five months, the foundation has been laid. The endurance work will not be as often and we will start working toward the speed. Core is essential and is something I like to stay on from the first day on fall training to the last meet. 

SB: You finished fourth at Worlds last year, which you couldn't have been happy about. After winning the 2011 World Championships, 2012 Olympic gold and coming up big and winning the Diamond League last year, what did you learn from the 2013 World Championships?

CT: The biggest thing I have taken away from my defeat was the mindset I was missing at these past championships. I went in to the champs with the hopes of winning. In the past championships, I went into them with the need to win. There is a big difference. If you want something, you will survive if you don't get it. But, when you need something, you will do what it takes (digging deep within) to get the target. So this is the new attitude I will take into my future competitions and especially, Championships.

SB: You're based in Loughborough, England. Few top American track and field athletes train overseas. Why the UK and what's your training support like?

CT: I have moved to the UK to follow my coach. We have been very successful in the past. When you have a good thing that works, you stick with it. Unfortunately, it came at the expense of leaving my family and friends behind. The new training group I am with is a strong one. They were very welcoming from the beginning and we have all benefitted from training together.

SB: You graduated from the University of Florida, where you were a 10x All-American, national champion and helped the Gators continue their dominating ways at the NCAA level. What are the odds you'll be following your Gators this weekend at the NCAA Indoor T&F Championships? Any words of advice?

CT: There is no doubt I am a GATOR through and through! I followed them through SECs and I'll definitely be following them through NCAAs. The biggest advice I can give is to go there and trust the work that has been put in. It is not time to get fancy or change from the things that have gotten you there. Compete to the fullest so you will never have regrets and leave it all on the track.

SB: Your shoe and apparel sponsor is Li-Ning, which is a massive athletic brand in China but not quite yet in the U.S. What's it like being a Li-Ning athlete?

CT: It is far from easy being a Li-Ning athlete. There are a lot of difficulties with communication when dealing with a company that is just in China. I was hoping when D-Wade joined the group, that there would be a US team I would be able to work with. I later found out this was not the case. I once took pride having a sponsor that had such a select group of athletes, but now I have found out that it has come at a price. But, like everything else, it has been a wonderful learning experience and I am grateful for the opportunity they have given me. 

SB: What's something many of your fans may not know about you?

CT: Something most of my fans don't know about me is that I watch Frasier every morning before training. I have an "old soul" and find that show pretty funny.

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