Elana Meyers Taylor’s two young sons witnessed her triumphant moment as she clinched the gold medal in monobob at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The 41-year-old bobsledder, a mother of two special-needs children, overcame career challenges and doubts to achieve her first Olympic title, marking her sixth career medal.
Expressing her disbelief turned joy, Meyers Taylor remarked, “I thought it was impossible,” from Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. She made history as the oldest American woman to claim the gold in monobob, clocking a total time of three minutes 57.93 seconds after a strong performance in the final heat.
Laura Nolte of Germany secured the silver medal, while Kaillie Humphries Armbruster from the U.S. took the bronze. Nolte, despite feeling a tinge of disappointment, acknowledged Meyers Taylor’s deserving victory, emphasizing her sportsmanship and previous achievements.
Humphries Armbruster, a former Canadian Olympian who now competes for the U.S., made history by winning gold in the inaugural monobob event at Beijing 2022. This marked her fifth Olympic medal, becoming the first woman over 40 to secure a bobsled medal.
Canadian bobsledders have maintained their streak of winning medals at each Games since 2006. Despite challenges, the Canadian team has strived for success, with Cynthia Appiah’s recent silver medal in Winterburg and a strong showing at the Milano-Cortina Olympics.
The Canadian team’s performance in the two-man bobsled event saw Germany dominating the top spots, with Canada’s best sled finishing in 15th place. Taylor Austin and Shaq Murray-Lawrence led the Canadian charge, with further heats scheduled for the following day.