American Bobsledders Medal in Cortina d'Ampezzo Race
In a bobsled race held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, American athletes Elana Meyers Taylor, 41, and Kaillie Humphries, 40, secured silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Meyers Taylor advanced from behind in the fourth and final heat, executing a clean run to win her first career gold medal. German athlete Laura Nolte, 27, earned the silver medal.
Meyers Taylor: A Record-Setting Career
Meyers Taylor, a mother of two, extended her record as the Black athlete with the most Olympic medals in Winter Games history. Her current medal count includes one gold, three silver, and two bronze.
Humphries: Continued Success
Humphries, who gave birth to her son in 2024, now holds three Olympic gold medals and two bronze medals.
Pioneering the Monobob Event
This marks the second consecutive Olympics where both athletes have earned medals in the single-person 'monobob' race. At the 2022 Beijing Games, Humphries won gold, and Meyers Taylor secured silver after training in isolation due to a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Both women are credited with influencing the International Olympic Committee to include the women's monobob event in the Winter Games, contributing to gender parity in the sport.
Humphries previously stated, "The women before me have allowed this to happen and I want to make sure that continues for all future generations."
Balancing Elite Athletics and Parenting
Both athletes have publicly addressed the challenges of combining elite athletic careers with parenting. Humphries underwent IVF treatments before her child's birth and mentioned returning to bobsledding 4.5 months postpartum. Meyers Taylor discussed the physical demands, including years of breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, back pain, and the aging process, stating that she would not change the experience.