Koss Celebrates Two Bronze Medals At Deaflympics

Former Panther reflects on experience at World Games

MILWAUKEE – After some well-deserved rest from his time and travels at the 2017 Deaflympics hosted in Samsun, Turkey, former Milwaukee track & field standout and team captain Taylor Koss sat down with the Black & Gold Network for a brief interview about his experiences.

Q: First of all, congratulation on your two medals for Team USA in the Deaflympics! What was it like to win not one, but two medals in this year's games?

TK: Blessed! Bringing two medals home in individual events with being horribly ill (I had a viral infection) was quite the accomplishment! I felt I had prepared myself to do better than the bronze, but it was very rewarding to represent Team USA, and I pushed myself through the illness to do the best I could to earn the two medals.

Q: Since this wasn't your first time competing the Games, how was it different this time around?

TK: I felt the 2017 Deaflympics was more organized and felt more like a true Olympian, more than last Deaflympics. I was better prepared and knew what to expect, having experienced it before. I felt like I improved on my Universal sign language after having met a lot of athletes from around the world!

Q: Do you have a favorite experience - on or off the track - from this year's games?

TK: Opening ceremony was the best - comparable to feeling like the Rio Olympics. It was amazing! I still got goose-bumps before every event! And, of course, the Olympic Game tradition of exchanging the USA pins with other country's pins. Every country really begged to exchange for our USA gear.

Q: What was it like traveling to that part of the world? Were there any things that were unique from your previous experiences?

TK: I think the Turkish culture is quite fascinating. The United States team is considered their celebrities. They would stare at us when we were in public/sightseeing, and they even wanted to take a picture of us, whether they were included in the picture or not. I think this country was a better host than previous Deaflympics. They worked very hard to build some facilities for us and the Deaflympic support was displayed everywhere with banners and statues of the sporting events throughout the city and airports. They really put in a lot of time and expense to make the Deaf Olympians feel welcome.

Q: Now that you're back home, what's next for you?

TK: Researching grad schools and interviewing. I will have some time for recovery for couple weeks and then start training for next Deaflympics 2021, in either Los Angeles or Dubai!

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Players Mentioned

Taylor Koss: Senior; Hurdles

Players Mentioned

Taylor Koss
: Senior; Hurdles