Elana Meyers Taylor makes Winter Olympic history as oldest gold medal winner
Elana Meyers Taylor captured the one medal that had eluded her across a storied career, winning the women's monobob gold at the Winter Olympics on Monday, February 16, 2026 (ET). The 41-year-old finished with a combined time of 3: 57. 93 over four heats, edging Germany's Laura Nolte by 0. 04 seconds and fellow American Kaillie Armbruster Humphries by 0. 12 seconds to claim history at Milan-Cortina.
A career-defining triumph
This victory completes a rare collection for Meyers Taylor. Already a four-time world champion and the holder of three Olympic silver medals and two bronzes across the monobob and two-woman events, the new gold elevates her to a six-medal tally across five Winter Games. The result makes her the most decorated female bobsleigh pilot ever and ties her with a legendary speed skater for the most Olympic medals by an American woman.
At 41, she also becomes the oldest individual Olympic champion at a Winter Games, surpassing the previous mark. The win underlines remarkable longevity and adaptability in a sport where fractions of a second decide legacies. Meyers Taylor delivered four consistent runs in difficult conditions, holding a slender lead going into the final heat and surviving a late challenge to seal the top spot.
Race recap and razor-thin margins
The women's monobob unfolded as a tense, tightly contested affair. Meyers Taylor's total of 3: 57. 93 left her just 0. 04 seconds clear of Nolte, with Humphries completing the podium 0. 12 seconds behind. Those margins illustrate how performance under pressure — the line out of the start, subtle steering inputs, and clean transitions — proved decisive.
In the final run Meyers Taylor produced a composed descent when it mattered most. A small mistake from the early leader opened the door, and Meyers Taylor capitalized, delivering a final heat that combined speed and poise. The result was a classic example of experience trumping raw aggression: when the runs are this close, veteran judgment often makes the difference.
Family, representation and legacy
Beyond the historic time and medal count, the victory carried deep personal meaning. Meyers Taylor, a mother of two, became the first mother to win Olympic bobsleigh gold. After her win she sank to her knees draped in the national flag and embraced her children on the track — a moment that underscored the human side of elite sport.
Her family story resonates widely. Both of her children, Nico and Noah, are deaf, and Nico also has Down syndrome. Meyers Taylor has spoken about competing not only for personal goals but to inspire hard-working mothers and to represent athletes from diverse backgrounds. Her success now stands as a milestone for representation: she is the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympic history, and she has used her platform to advocate for inclusion and to encourage the next generation of athletes.
After the medal ceremony Meyers Taylor reflected on perseverance and community, highlighting the support around her — from teammates and coaches to family members who have traveled the circuit together. The gold is both a career capstone and a statement: elite achievement and parenthood can coexist at the highest level, and longevity in sport remains achievable with dedication, support, and belief.
As the Games move forward, Meyers Taylor's triumph will be remembered as one of the defining moments of this edition — a blend of narrow margins, personal narrative, and barrier-breaking achievement that expands the script for athletes who follow.
