YANQING, China - With a fantastic finish, GW softball alumna
Elana Meyers Taylor made more Olympic history on Monday morning, securing a silver medal in the inaugural monobob competition at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre.
After entering the day in fourth place, Meyers Taylor (B.S. '06, M.T.A. '11, HON '18) moved into the silver medal position with a four-run time of 4:20.81 that ensured a Team USA sweep of the top two spots with Kaillie Humphries (4:19.27). The Buff & Blue Hall of Famer saved her best for last, posting the top final run of any competitor to clinch her place on the podium in the event's Olympic debut.
Meyers Taylor became the first athlete to win four Olympic bobsled medals for the United States counting two previous silvers in PyeongChang (2018) and Sochi (2014) and a bronze in Vancouver (2010). That medal collection is now tied for sixth all-time among Team USA representatives at the Winter Games with a chance to add on later this week via the two-woman competition.
Meyers Taylor added to her Olympic legacy in the face of adversity after a positive COVID-19 test at the beginning of her stay in Beijing forced her into isolation away from her family and caused her to miss the Opening Ceremony as well as valuable training time.
Still, the 37-year-old from Douglasville, Ga., was able to shine once again on the global stage and bring a medal home to her almost 2-year-old son Nico.
"I came out today just completely having fun," said Meyers Taylor, who will begin the two-woman competition on Friday among the favorites after winning the latest World Cup title in that discipline. "I came out today knowing I had absolutely nothing to lose. For me, the difference between fourth and 20th wasn't going to make a difference, so all I had to do was lay it all on the line and that's exactly what I did. I just went out there, enjoyed the heck out of this race, and fortunately it paid off."
Meyers Taylor's commitment to excellence has been evident since she arrived at GW in the fall of 2002 as the softball program's first recruit. She graduated as the Buff and Blue's all-time leader in nearly every offensive category while also being named a two-time A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year and CoSIDA Academic All-American during her impressive collegiate career.
In recognition of her trailblazing achievements on the diamond and the ice, Meyers Taylor was inducted into the
GW Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014, had her
No. 24 retired at GW Softball Field later that year and received an
honorary Doctorate of Public Service during university commencement ceremonies in 2018.
Most recently, she was honored among the
university's Monumental Alumni during its Bicentennial Celebration.