Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – At 41, Elana Meyers Taylor is navigating a remarkable fifth Winter Olympics and she’s firmly in contention for a medal at the Milan Cortina Games. After the first two heats of the women’s monobob competition, the Douglasville, Georgia native sits in second place, just 0.22 seconds behind the leader.
Taylor, who refers to herself as “E-Money” – a testament to her ability to perform under pressure – isn’t surprised to be in this position. “I’m money under pressure,” she told NBC News from her room in Cortina prior to competing. This unwavering confidence is a hallmark of a career that has already established her as the most decorated female bobsledder and Black Winter Olympian in history.
However, a gold medal remains the elusive prize. Taylor’s Olympic journey includes a bronze in the two-woman bobsled in Vancouver 2010, silver medals in Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018, and a bronze and silver in Beijing 2022. She acknowledges that achieving this goal won’t be easy, especially considering the challenges she’s faced this season.
Taylor’s preparation for the Games was far from ideal. She entered the competition without a single first-place finish this season, battling chronic back pain, and recovering from a severe crash in Switzerland last month, which she described as “one of the most horrific crashes” of her career. Despite these setbacks, Taylor remains optimistic.
“I’m still going for those two gold medals,” Taylor said. “I still believe it’s possible.”
Taylor’s path to Olympic glory wasn’t a straight line. A successful collegiate career as an All-American pitcher and shortstop for George Washington University in 2007 initially led her to pursue a spot on the U.S. Olympic softball team. However, a disappointing tryout – marred by missed pitches and fielding errors – left her questioning her Olympic aspirations.
A chance viewing of bobsledding on television, and a nudge from her parents, prompted Taylor to explore a new sport. To her surprise, she found a natural aptitude for the ice track. She pivoted from the softball diamond to the world of bobsled, and quickly excelled.
Now, as she competes in Italy, Taylor’s motivation extends beyond personal achievement. She wants to inspire her two young sons, Nico, 5, and Noah, 3, both of whom are deaf and have Down syndrome. Both boys are in Cortina, cheering for their mother from the stands.
“Nobody in their right mind would say, ‘Hey, a 41-year-old woman is going to have a shot at another Olympic medal in a speed and power sport,’” Taylor said. “I want my children to know that people told their mom that it can’t happen and then she went for it anyways.”
Taylor’s journey is also fueled by the legacy of Black Olympic pioneers like Shani Davis, Vonetta Flowers, and her current teammate, Erin Jackson. “I’m a person who believes that if you see it, you can be it,” she said, emphasizing the importance of representation in sports.
With two heats remaining in the women’s monobob competition, Elana Meyers Taylor is poised to make history. Whether she secures the gold medal or not, her resilience, determination, and unwavering spirit continue to inspire athletes and fans around the world.
