At 41 years old, Elana Meyers Taylor finally stood atop an Olympic podium on Monday, February 16, 2026, becoming the oldest American woman ever to win a Winter Olympic gold medal. The veteran bobsledder’s victory in the women’s monobob event at the Milan-Cortina Games wasn’t just a personal triumph—it was a historic moment that tied her with speed skater Bonnie Blair for the most Winter Olympic medals by an American female athlete and cemented her legacy as one of the most decorated Winter Olympians in U.S. history.
How the Race Unfolded: A 0.04-Second Margin for History
Meyers Taylor entered the fourth and final heat of the monobob competition in second place, trailing Germany’s Laura Nolte by a narrow margin. In a dramatic finish that showcased her decades of experience, she navigated the Cortina d’Ampezzo track with precision, crossing the line with a combined time of 3:57.93 over four runs—just 0.04 seconds faster than Nolte. The victory marked the closest finish in Olympic monobob history and completed a remarkable comeback after Meyers Taylor had spent 16 years chasing the gold medal that had eluded her through four previous Olympic appearances.
“I still can’t believe it,” Meyers Taylor said afterward, her voice cracking with emotion. “It’s surreal. For so long, I’ve been so close, and to finally have it happen—I’m just overwhelmed.” Her American teammate Kaillie Humphries, 40, claimed the bronze medal, making it a historic podium featuring two U.S. mothers in their 40s. Humphries, who won gold in the event’s Olympic debut in 2022, celebrated her first Olympic medal as a mother after giving birth to her son in 2024.
Timeline: The 16-Year Journey to Olympic Gold
Meyers Taylor’s path to this moment spanned five Olympic Games and 16 years of near-misses and heartbreaking finishes. She made her Olympic debut as a brakewoman in 2010, winning bronze in Vancouver. Four years later in Sochi, she earned silver in the two-woman event. Another silver followed in Pyeongchang in 2018, and when monobob made its Olympic debut in Beijing 2022, she took silver again behind teammate Humphries. Throughout this period, she established herself as the most decorated female bobsledder in history, but the top spot on the podium remained just out of reach.
The 2026 Games represented what she had announced would be her final Olympic appearance. “I knew this was my last chance,” she told reporters after the race. “I’ve been visualizing this moment for years, and to actually experience it—there are no words.” Her victory makes her the first American bobsledder to win medals in five consecutive Olympic Games and the oldest bobsled medalist at any Games since 1956.
Why This Victory Matters: Breaking Barriers Beyond the Track
Meyers Taylor’s achievement transcends sports statistics. As a mother of two special-needs children—both deaf, with her older son having Down syndrome—she has balanced elite athletic training with the demands of parenting in a way few athletes have. Her sons, Nico (5) and Noah (3), were in Cortina to watch their mother compete, marking the first time both children were old enough to understand her Olympic journey.
“My kids are my motivation,” she explained. “They’ve taught me about perseverance, about finding joy in challenges, and about what really matters.” Throughout the Games, she was seen using sign language to communicate with her children, including signing “mommy won” to them after her victory—a moment that quickly went viral on social media and became one of the most heartwarming images of the 2026 Olympics.
Her victory also represents a significant milestone for Black athletes in winter sports. As the most decorated Black Winter Olympian in history, Meyers Taylor has broken barriers in a sport that has historically lacked diversity. “Representation matters,” she said in a recent interview. “If seeing me out there helps one little girl believe she can do this too, then everything I’ve been through is worth it.”
Where Things Stand Now: Celebrations and Reactions
In the immediate aftermath of her victory, celebrations erupted both in Cortina and back home in Douglasville, Georgia, where Meyers Taylor lives with her family. The U.S. Olympic Committee announced plans for a hometown celebration, while tributes poured in from fellow athletes, politicians, and celebrities. Bonnie Blair, whose record Meyers Taylor now shares, issued a statement congratulating her: “Welcome to the club, Elana. Your perseverance and dedication are an inspiration to us all.”
Fellow bobsledder and bronze medalist Kaillie Humphries emphasized the significance of their shared achievement as mothers in their 40s. “We’re showing that motherhood doesn’t mean the end of your athletic career,” Humphries said. “If anything, it gives you more drive, more purpose. Elana and I are proving that you can be a world-class athlete and a dedicated parent.”
What Happens Next: Retirement and Legacy
With her Olympic career now complete, Meyers Taylor has confirmed she will retire from competitive bobsledding. However, she plans to remain involved in the sport through coaching and advocacy work, particularly focusing on increasing opportunities for athletes with disabilities and promoting diversity in winter sports. She also intends to continue her work with organizations supporting deaf children and children with Down syndrome.
“This gold medal isn’t the end of my story—it’s the beginning of a new chapter,” she said. “I want to use this platform to make a difference, to help create opportunities for others who might not see themselves represented in sports like bobsled.” Her legacy extends beyond her six Olympic medals; she leaves the sport having inspired a generation of athletes who now see that age, motherhood, and disability are not barriers to Olympic glory.
The Bottom Line: Key Points to Remember
- Elana Meyers Taylor, 41, won her first Olympic gold medal in women’s monobob at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
- Her sixth Olympic medal ties speed skater Bonnie Blair for most Winter Olympic medals by an American woman (6)
- She becomes the oldest American woman to win Winter Olympic gold and the oldest bobsled medalist since 1956
- The mother of two special-needs children won by a margin of just 0.04 seconds after four runs
- Teammate Kaillie Humphries, 40, took bronze, making it a historic podium for two American mothers in their 40s
- Meyers Taylor plans to retire from competition but will remain involved in coaching and advocacy work
In a career defined by perseverance and breaking barriers, Elana Meyers Taylor’s long-awaited gold medal represents more than just Olympic hardware—it’s a testament to the power of resilience, the importance of representation, and the possibility of achieving dreams at any age or stage of life.
