At the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Elana Meyers Taylor finally captured the one prize that had eluded her throughout one of the most accomplished careers in women’s bobsledding — Olympic gold in the women’s monobob.
Competing at 41 years old in her fifth Olympic Games, Meyers Taylor entered the competition already holding five Olympic medals — three silver and two bronze — but none of them gold. That changed Monday at the Cortina Sliding Centre, where a dramatic final heat delivered a long-awaited moment of triumph.
Trailing Germany’s Laura Nolte after the first three heats, Meyers Taylor delivered a flawless final run when it mattered most. Her time vaulted her into first place, but the outcome remained uncertain as Nolte — the two-woman gold medalist from Beijing 2022 — prepared for her final descent.
Standing in the leader’s box, Meyers Taylor watched as Nolte’s run began to unravel. The German pilot skidded through the middle portion of the course, and her once-comfortable margin quickly disappeared. The clock, initially glowing green to indicate the fastest pace, turned red as Nolte crossed the finish line — just 0.04 seconds behind the American.
The realization of victory hit Meyers Taylor instantly. Overcome with emotion, she dropped to her knees after securing the gold medal that had narrowly escaped her for more than a decade of Olympic competition.
Sharing the moment beside her was Kaillie Humphries, who claimed the bronze medal. Humphries entered the Games as the defending Olympic champion in monobob and had stood on the podium with Meyers Taylor at the previous Olympics. This time, she stood in support as her longtime competitor and teammate celebrated the pinnacle achievement of her career.
Another American sled, piloted by Kaysha Love, finished seventh. The Utah native showed early promise with the third-fastest time in the opening run, but small mistakes in Runs 2 and 4 cost valuable time. Love, competing in her second Olympic Games and first Olympic monobob event, gained valuable experience on the sport’s biggest stage.
For Meyers Taylor, the victory was more than just another medal — it was the defining moment of a legendary Olympic journey. After years of near-misses and podium finishes, she finally stood alone at the top, cementing her place in history as one of the greatest athletes the sport has ever seen.
