A former weightlifter, powerlifter, and bodybuilder, Taylor competed at 6" (183 cm) and approximately 295 lbs (134 kg) during his strongman career.

[1] He competed in weightlifting at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, taking second in the snatch in the 110 kg class.

At Brian Batcheldor's Strength Seminar in Birmingham in 1995, he performed an incredible Behind-The-Neck push press of 272.5 kg (600.75 lb) (judged by David Webster, the organizer of the World's Strongest Man competitions).

[citation needed] Gary suffered a career-ending knee injury during the tire flip event at the 1997 Europe's Strongest Man contest.

[citation needed] Taylor, now retired from competition, worked within the PE department (he was a senior officer) at Aylesbury Young Offenders Institute, a prison for Category A (highest and most considered dangerous), as well as being the Senior Gym Officer and rugby coach for Ampthill youth rugby team.