Elana Meyers Taylor facts for kids
Elana Meyers Taylor in 2019
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| Birth name | Elana Alessandra Meyers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | October 10, 1984 Oceanside, California, U.S. |
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| Height | 1.70 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 79 kg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Bobsleigh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Elana Meyers Taylor, born on October 10, 1984, is an amazing American bobsledder. She is an Olympic medalist and a World Champion! Elana started competing in bobsledding in 2007. She grew up in Douglasville, Georgia, and went to George Washington University. There, she played on the softball team.
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Elana's Bobsledding Journey
Elana won her first big medal in 2009. It was a silver medal in the two-woman bobsled event. She competed with Shauna Rohbock at the World Championships in Lake Placid, New York.
In 2010, Elana was chosen for the U.S. team for the 2010 Winter Olympics. On February 24, 2010, Elana and her teammate Erin Pac won a bronze medal at the Vancouver Olympics. This was her first Olympic medal!
Elana also got help from the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) in 2010 and 2013. Later, she even became the president of the WSF in 2019.
In 2013, Elana and her brake-woman Katie Eberling won a silver medal. This was at the World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
A big moment came on February 19, 2014. Elana and Lauryn Williams won a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. They set a new track record in their first run! They were very close to winning gold.
In 2014, Elana also tried playing rugby sevens for the United States women's national rugby union team (sevens).
Breaking Barriers in Bobsled
In September 2014, a new rule allowed mixed-gender teams in four-man bobsledding. Elana quickly learned how to drive a four-man sled. On November 15, 2014, she made history! Elana and Kaillie Humphries became the first women to race against men in an international four-man bobsled competition.
In February 2015, Elana and Cherrelle Garrett won a gold medal at the World Championships. This was the first time an American woman driver won a world title on a track outside North America!
At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Elana and Lauren Gibbs won another silver medal. This was in the two-woman bobsled event.
Elana was chosen to be a flag bearer for the U.S. Olympic team in 2022. But she couldn't attend the opening ceremony because she tested positive for COVID-19. Brittany Bowe carried the flag for her instead.
Elana's Life Outside the Track
Elana Meyers Taylor was born in Oceanside, California. She grew up in Douglasville, Georgia. Her dad was a professional football player. Elana first tried bobsledding after she didn't make the U.S. Olympic softball team. Her parents suggested she try it!
She went to The George Washington University on a scholarship for softball. The university has honored her many times. They gave her an honorary degree in 2018 and a special medal in 2022. Elana also gave the graduation speech for the university's Class of 2022.
Elana married Nic Taylor in April 2014. He is also a bobsled coach and an Olympic bobsledder. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Elana gave birth to her son, Nico. Nico was born with Down syndrome.
Elana is a Christian. She believes her purpose in bobsledding is to help people and to honor her faith.
Overcoming Challenges and Helping Others
Elana Meyers Taylor has faced many challenges and has worked hard to help others.
Advocating for Athletes
In 2014, Elana had a concussion while racing. She recovered and continued to compete. But her symptoms came back later. She decided to donate her brain to concussion research. This will help scientists learn more and keep future athletes safer. Elana has also recovered from a torn Achilles tendon.
In November 2014, Elana made history again. She became the first woman to win a medal in a men's event in an international competition. She raced in a four-man bobsled with her husband, Nic Taylor, as her brakeman!
Elana is a strong voice for female athletes. She believes she has a duty to fight for equality. In 2019, she became the president of the Women's Sports Foundation. This shows her dedication to helping women in sports.
Speaking Out Against Racism
In June 2020, Elana shared her experiences with racism in her bobsledding career. She wrote about an incident with a coach from another country. She also mentioned that some sled manufacturers would not sell to Black bobsledders.
Because of Elana's article, a special group was created. The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation started a task force to investigate these issues. Elana also started a workshop. This workshop helps people share their experiences with racism. It also teaches how to avoid discrimination.
