Sandy Creek High graduate Christian Taylor will be back in Rio next month to compete for his second straight Olympic gold medal in the triple jump.
Taylor finished second in the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials earlier this month in Oregon, his 17.39 meters just 26 centimeters behind Will Claye at 17.65. Both jumpers competed for the University of Florida as collegians. Claye finished second to Taylor in the 2012 trials, and his win this time was his second American title in the last three years and the sixth straight year in which Florida athletes took the top two spots.
In the 2012 Olympics in London, Taylor won the gold medal and Claye took home the silver.
Taylor has finished in the top two at the U.S. championships four times since 2010.
In the above photo, Taylor and Claye celebrate with third-place finisher Chris Benard at the U.S. Olympic trials.
