Going the Distance

Published by the Village Journal on October 15, 2014

If Christian Taylor wasn’t so good at jumping insane distances, he could probably run for public office in the city of Gainesville. His smile is as long as his stride, and he absolutely wishes the best for this town.

As a national champion triple jumper for the University of Florida (UF) and 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist for the USA, Taylor has traveled the world competing in a sport that he loves, testing his skills against athletes of the highest caliber and seeing places he never dreamed he’d see. But when he hits the ground, if it’s not a pit of sand, he’d prefer it to be Gainesville.

Ever since arriving at UF December of 2008 on visits for his track & field scholarship, Taylor said the community felt like home. Now splitting his time between Gainesville and England after the 2012 Olympics, during the summer months Taylor trains at the University of Florida track while also enjoying some time off and getting back to the place that makes him feel most comfortable.

“My heart is in Gainesville,” he said. “I like to come back and support the people that have supported me. I want to be an example for what this community and this [UF Track & Field] athletic program produces.”

Gainesville spoiled him in a way, he says. The overwhelming support of his school, coaches, teammates and community was something he found absent as a professional jumper. “Jumping is a solitary sport. You compete alone. You train alone. You travel alone. Leaving the comfort of a team environment and a school system was a difficult transition,” he said.