elana meyers taylor and Kaillie Armbruster Humphries: Olympic medals on the track, motherhood off it

Elana Meyers Taylor captured the long-awaited Olympic monobob gold on Monday, Feb. 16 (ET), and alongside fellow medalist Kaillie Armbruster Humphries the two women offered a vivid reminder that elite sport and parenthood can coexist. Their podium moment in Cortina d'Ampezzo was about more than hardware; it was a rare public celebration of women who refuse to choose between family and their lifelong ambitions.

Gold, family and the visibility of working moms

Meyers Taylor crossed the finish line ahead of Germany’s Laura Nolte and Armbruster Humphries to claim the top spot, but the feel of the victory stretched beyond timing runs. Her sons are still small enough that they do not fully grasp the magnitude of an Olympic title, while Armbruster Humphries’ young son delighted in playing in the snow around the medals podium. The image of two mothers with their children close by resonated with anyone who has tried to juggle family commitments and a demanding career.

“I hope it shows that just because you're a mom doesn't mean you have to stop living your dreams, ” Meyers Taylor said, framing the gold medal as both a personal triumph and a message to other parents. For athletes who often hear that age and parenting mark the end of opportunity, these podium appearances offered an alternative narrative: that timelines can be flexible and success can look different at 20, 30 or beyond.

Compartmentalizing, support systems and the cost of ambition

Both women were candid about the trade-offs. Armbruster Humphries described the emotional cost of stepping away from her child for competition, saying that being apart since he was born was gutting. She emphasized the practical steps that made it possible: a tight support network that included her husband, parents and in-laws, and the ability to compartmentalize so she could sleep, recover and perform at her best.

They credited partners and family members for the daily caregiving that enabled training cycles and travel. They also pointed to institutional resources that can make a difference—financial and otherwise—for athletes raising children. Still, the internal struggle remains uniquely personal: the nagging voice of mom guilt, the weighing of sacrifices, and the quiet calculus of what it means to put oneself first occasionally in pursuit of a dream.

“Recognizing that mom guilt is a thing and it existed, but that I needed to do it in order to be my best, ” Armbruster Humphries said. That frank assessment captures the balancing act many working parents confront, whether their workplace is a sliding sled track or an office cubicle.

Shifting expectations and a broader example

Meyers Taylor and Armbruster Humphries both acknowledged they are not solitary successes. Their victories were built on teamwork, coaching, spousal support and family help. Yet they hoped the scene of two mothers atop an Olympic podium would do more than celebrate their personal achievements — they wanted it to offer a reframing for others who have been told that certain goals close once parenthood begins or age advances.

“This medal is also for all those moms who weren't necessarily able to live their dreams, but their kids are now their dreams, ” Meyers Taylor said, highlighting the ways some parents pivot their ambitions while still finding meaning in both roles. Armbruster Humphries noted how perceptions have shifted from a belief that careers decline sharply after 40 to a recognition that older athletes can remain competitive and inspiring.

Their message was practical as well as aspirational: support matters, preparation matters, and emotional honesty about priorities matters. Whether aiming for an Olympic podium or managing a daily schedule at home, the same tensions apply. And for many viewers watching in the snow, that combination of elite performance and parental candor made the medals feel that much more earned.

On and off the track in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Meyers Taylor and Armbruster Humphries left a clear imprint: elite success and motherhood need not be mutually exclusive, and the next generation of athletes and parents can look to them as proof that you can chase a dream and still keep your family at the center of the story.