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Softball Alumna Meyers Taylor Claims Fifth Olympic Medal
2/19/2022 1:30:00 PM | Softball
Buff & Blue Hall of Famer took bronze in two-woman bobsled
YANQING, China - GW softballl alumna Elana Meyers Taylor made more Olympic history on Saturday, securing her fifth career medal and second of the Beijing Games with a third-place finish in the two-woman bobsled at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre.
Following last week's silver-medal performance in the inaugural women's monobob, Meyers Taylor (B.S. '06, M.T.A. '11, HON '18) added another bronze to her collection thanks to four solid runs over two days in the two-woman paired with Sylvia Hoffman. She's now five-for-five reaching the podium in her Olympic career, adding in silvers in PyeongChang (2018) and Sochi (2014) and a bronze in her 2010 debut in Vancouver.
Already the most decorated Team USA Olympic bobsledder of all-time, she broke a tie with speed skater Shani Davis to become the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Games history. She's also the first woman to collect two bobsled medals in a single Olympics thanks to the addition of monobob.
"I've been on Olympic podiums before, but I can't think of any that's been harder to get than here," Meyers Taylor told reporters afterward. "So it's just been incredible and I can't even put into words what this means."
Indeed, Meyers Taylor was able to overcome every challenge at age 37 in her first Olympics since the birth of her son Nico on the way to her unprecedented success in Beijing.Â
A positive COVID-19 test upon arrival at these Games forced her into isolation and put her participation in doubt. She missed the Opening Ceremony where she'd been elected flag bearer for Team USA but was able to get back to training in time for the monobob practice runs.
Meyers Taylor showed no ill effects of that inauspicious start once on the ice. She was runner-up in the monobob behind Team USA teammate Kaillie Humphries before adding another bronze in two-woman.
In her latest medal win, Meyers Taylor and Hoffman established their position in third behind a pair of German sleds on Friday and then held strong there over their final two runs on Saturday to finish with a combined time of 4:05.48.
Up next, Meyers Taylor will be the U.S. flag bearer for the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, again picked by fellow members of Team USA for the honor.
Before fulfilling her Olympic dream, Meyers Taylor enjoyed a decorated collegiate career on the diamond.Â
The shortstop was the first-ever recruit of GW softball and a driving force in the program's early development while starting its first 192 games over five seasons. She was recognized as a two-time All-Conference First Team performer, two-time A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year and a CoSIDA Academic All-American for her efforts.
Meyers Taylor is a member of the GW Athletics Hall of Fame, has her No. 24 retired by the softball program 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.
The shortstop was the first-ever recruit of GW softball and a driving force in the program's early development while starting its first 192 games over five seasons. She was recognized as a two-time All-Conference First Team performer, two-time A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year and a CoSIDA Academic All-American for her efforts.
Meyers Taylor is a member of the GW Athletics Hall of Fame, has her No. 24 retired by the softball program 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.
Following last week's silver-medal performance in the inaugural women's monobob, Meyers Taylor (B.S. '06, M.T.A. '11, HON '18) added another bronze to her collection thanks to four solid runs over two days in the two-woman paired with Sylvia Hoffman. She's now five-for-five reaching the podium in her Olympic career, adding in silvers in PyeongChang (2018) and Sochi (2014) and a bronze in her 2010 debut in Vancouver.
Already the most decorated Team USA Olympic bobsledder of all-time, she broke a tie with speed skater Shani Davis to become the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Games history. She's also the first woman to collect two bobsled medals in a single Olympics thanks to the addition of monobob.
"I've been on Olympic podiums before, but I can't think of any that's been harder to get than here," Meyers Taylor told reporters afterward. "So it's just been incredible and I can't even put into words what this means."
Indeed, Meyers Taylor was able to overcome every challenge at age 37 in her first Olympics since the birth of her son Nico on the way to her unprecedented success in Beijing.Â
A positive COVID-19 test upon arrival at these Games forced her into isolation and put her participation in doubt. She missed the Opening Ceremony where she'd been elected flag bearer for Team USA but was able to get back to training in time for the monobob practice runs.
Meyers Taylor showed no ill effects of that inauspicious start once on the ice. She was runner-up in the monobob behind Team USA teammate Kaillie Humphries before adding another bronze in two-woman.
In her latest medal win, Meyers Taylor and Hoffman established their position in third behind a pair of German sleds on Friday and then held strong there over their final two runs on Saturday to finish with a combined time of 4:05.48.
Up next, Meyers Taylor will be the U.S. flag bearer for the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, again picked by fellow members of Team USA for the honor.
Before fulfilling her Olympic dream, Meyers Taylor enjoyed a decorated collegiate career on the diamond.Â
The shortstop was the first-ever recruit of GW softball and a driving force in the program's early development while starting its first 192 games over five seasons. She was recognized as a two-time All-Conference First Team performer, two-time A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year and a CoSIDA Academic All-American for her efforts.
Meyers Taylor is a member of the GW Athletics Hall of Fame, has her No. 24 retired by the softball program 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.
The shortstop was the first-ever recruit of GW softball and a driving force in the program's early development while starting its first 192 games over five seasons. She was recognized as a two-time All-Conference First Team performer, two-time A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year and a CoSIDA Academic All-American for her efforts.
Meyers Taylor is a member of the GW Athletics Hall of Fame, has her No. 24 retired by the softball program 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.
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