Tyrone resident Christian Taylor lifted the American flag in victory today as he won the gold medal in the triple jump at the 2012 Olympics in London.

And even for the reigning world champion, the gold didn’t come easy, as Taylor’s first two jumps were faults and his third jump put him in fifth overall. It was the fourth jump that was the charm for Taylor, who sailed 17.81 meters to take the lead from teammate Will Claye, who finished with the silver medal.

When the results were made final, Taylor went straight to the stands to hug family, friends and supporters before he took the flag on a triumphant run. Not a full victory lap, but more than good enough for a young man who was able to fulfill his gold medal dream.

Taylor reaffirmed his position as the top triple jumper in the entire world, beating his top competition on a worldwide stage.

He may have been cheered on by millions, but Taylor’s friends and family from Tyrone may well be the most pleased by his success on the world stage.

Taylor is a graduate of Sandy Creek High School and was a 10-time All-American at the University of Florida.