Elana Meyers Taylor Announces Retirement from Competitive Bobsledding, Eyes Advocacy and Coaching Path
Elana Meyers Taylor, one of Team USA’s most decorated sliding athletes, confirmed on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 ET that she is retiring from competitive bobsledding. The announcement closes a storied career that included multiple Olympic medals and an influential role advancing women’s participation and safety in winter sports.
Career highlights and the decision to step away
Meyers Taylor’s career spanned more than a decade and a half at the top of international bobsled competition. She earned multiple Olympic medals and collected World Cup and World Championship honors, becoming a consistent presence on podiums worldwide. The athlete cited a desire to leave the sport on her own terms and to shift focus toward family, advocacy, and mentorship as primary reasons for stepping away from racing.
In her statement, Meyers Taylor reflected on the physical and emotional toll of elite competition and the satisfaction of having contributed to the sport’s growth. She noted that the decision was intended to allow a new generation of athletes to emerge while she concentrates on areas where she believes she can have lasting impact off the track.
Future plans: coaching, advocacy and athlete welfare
Looking ahead, Meyers Taylor outlined plans that center on expanding opportunities for women and improving athlete welfare in sliding sports. She plans to pursue coaching and technical roles that will let her directly mentor younger pilots and brakemen, and to work on programs aimed at increasing diversity and access in winter sports.
In recent seasons she has been involved in outreach and safety initiatives, and her retirement will allow more time to deepen that work. She emphasized priorities such as concussion and injury prevention, fair support for female athletes, and better pathways into coaching and technical careers for former competitors.
Legacy and impact on the sport
Meyers Taylor’s influence extended beyond medals. Teammates and rivals alike point to her leadership, technical skill and persistent advocacy as elements that reshaped expectations for women in bobsled. Her public presence helped draw attention to funding disparities and equipment access, and she has been vocal about the need for structural changes to support athletes from diverse backgrounds.
With retirement now official, attention will turn to who will fill the seats in U. S. sleds and how the federation and training programs adapt. Meyers Taylor said she will remain involved in development pipelines and expects to take on roles that bridge athlete experience with administrative and coaching functions.
Her departure marks the end of a competitive chapter but opens a new phase in which her influence may be as significant behind the scenes as it was on the ice. Olympians often shift to roles that shape the next generation; Meyers Taylor’s stated priorities suggest she intends to be a driving force in that next chapter.
She concluded her announcement by thanking teammates, coaches, family and fans for their support and expressing excitement about contributing to the sport’s future in fresh ways.
