Elana Meyers Taylor makes Winter Olympic history as oldest individual gold medallist
On Monday, February 16, 2026 (ET), elana meyers taylor finally completed an Olympic résumé that had been missing a single prize: an individual gold medal. At 41, the American bobsleigh veteran won the women's monobob to become the oldest individual gold medallist at a Winter Games, capping a dramatic four-heat contest by the slimmest of margins.
Historic milestone and race details
Meyers Taylor posted a combined time of 3: 57. 93 over four runs to edge out Germany's Laura Nolte by 0. 04 seconds and teammate Kaillie Armbruster Humphries by 0. 12 seconds. The victory on the Milan-Cortina track marked her fifth Winter Games and added the one accolade that had eluded an otherwise outstanding career.
The result rewrites multiple record lists. At 41, Meyers Taylor surpasses the previous oldest individual Winter Olympic champion and becomes the most decorated female bobsleigh pilot in history. The gold also pushes her career Olympic haul to six medals—three silver and two bronze previously—tying her with one of the nation's most successful winter competitors for the most medals by an American woman at the Winter Games.
On the start line and through each run, Meyers Taylor showed the blend of experience and resilience that has defined her career. The margins in elite bobsleigh are microscopic—fractions of a second drawn from perfect lines, explosive pushes and nerves of steel on the final descent—and her winning run delivered at just the right moment.
A personal victory and broader impact
When the final time flashed, Meyers Taylor sank to her knees under the American flag and embraced her two young children. "Finally the gold! It took long enough, right?" she said, later adding that the medal represents perseverance and the support network behind elite athletes. The scene underscored another striking element of her achievement: she is the first mother to win Olympic bobsleigh gold.
Meyers Taylor has been open about the balancing act of parenthood and elite sport. Her two children, Nico and Noah, are both deaf, and Nico has Down syndrome. Meyers Taylor has often spoken about how family responsibilities and the sacrifices of those around her fuel her drive to compete and to inspire other women and mothers who juggle demanding lives.
Beyond personal narrative, the win resonates for representation. She is the most decorated Black athlete at a Winter Olympics, and her success at the sport’s highest level reinforces efforts to broaden access and visibility in winter disciplines that have historically lacked diversity.
Legacy and what comes next
The gold medal caps off a run of sustained excellence—four world championship titles, a string of World Cup podiums and now Olympic glory. It also reshapes expectations around athletic prime and longevity in sliding sports, where experience often translates to superior tactical decisions and consistency on race day.
For the U. S. bobsleigh programme, Meyers Taylor’s triumph is both a morale boost and a marker of depth: the United States placed two athletes on the monobob podium. Her victory will be measured in medals, sure, but also in the inspiration it delivers to teammates, rising pilots and athletes who see in her a model of persistence and family-centred ambition.
At 41, elana meyers taylor has turned a long-sought personal goal into a moment that will be replayed in Olympic highlight reels for years. The gold does not only enrich a storied career; it broadens the conversation about what is possible for women in winter sport and how elite athletes can thrive in multiple roles—competitor, parent and role model—on the world stage.
