Elana Meyers Taylor Secures Historic First Olympic Gold in Monobob at Milano Cortina 2026

Historic Gold for Veteran Bobsledder

Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy – Veteran American bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, at 41 years old, achieved a career-defining milestone on Monday, February 16, 2026, by winning her first Olympic gold medal in the women's monobob event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The victory, secured at the Cortina Sliding Centre, adds a coveted gold to her impressive collection of Olympic hardware.

Meyers Taylor's triumph was hard-fought, as she edged out Germany's Laura Nolte by a mere 0.04 seconds over four heats. Fellow American Kaillie Humphries secured the bronze medal, sharing the podium with Meyers Taylor.

A Legacy of Medals and Milestones

Prior to this historic win, Meyers Taylor was already a highly decorated athlete, boasting five Olympic medals—three silver and two bronze. This gold medal brings her total to six Olympic medals, tying her with speedskater Bonnie Blair for the most medals won by a U.S. woman in Winter Olympic history.

Her achievement also sets new records, making her the oldest American woman to win a Winter Olympic medal and the oldest American woman to claim a gold medal at the Winter Games. Meyers Taylor also holds the distinction of being the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympic history.

The Monobob Event: A Test of Individual Skill

The women's monobob event, which made its Olympic debut at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, is an individual bobsled discipline designed to highlight the athlete's pure skill and driving prowess. Competitors use identical sleds, leveling the playing field and shifting the focus from equipment to athletic ability.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXV Winter Olympic Games, are taking place across multiple sites in Lombardy and Northeast Italy from February 6 to 22, 2026, with some competitions commencing on February 4.

Meyers Taylor's Emotional Victory

Overcome with emotion, Meyers Taylor expressed her disbelief and excitement following the race. 'It actually happened. It's going to take a while for this to sink in,' she told reporters. 'I still can't believe it. I can't even put into words what this means, I'm just so excited.' Her journey to gold has been marked by perseverance, including a challenging World Cup season prior to the Games and managing back problems.