Six-time World Champion American Bobsledder, Elana Meyers Taylor, spoke to our Kelsey Nicole Nelson following her first gold medal win at the 2026 Winter Olympics in an exclusive interview on “Listen In With KNN” presented by FOX Sports Radio. 

Meyers Taylor discussed how she first began bobsledding, noting that many athletes who enter the sport come from high-power backgrounds such as football or track and field, which help them handle sleds that weigh nearly 400 pounds.

Unlike the majority of athletes in the sport, Meyers Taylor, who is also an alumnus of George Washington University in Washington, D.C., made the unconventional transition from the sport of softball to bobsledding following her graduation.

The GW alumna, who was the school’s first-ever softball recruit, said the opportunity to help build the university’s softball program played a major role in shaping her path. 

“One of the biggest things that drew me to GW was the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself,” she said. “That’s kind of paralleled in bobsled.”

Meyers Taylor also spoke about the new Olympic Athlete Recovery Program, in collaboration with Lilly.In previous years, injuries hindered her ability to perform at her best, and the significance of winning Olympic gold at age 41 during her fifth Olympic Games.

“This season in general was really, really difficult,” she said. “To come into these games and actually feel good and be healthy, I was able to put on the performance of a lifetime.”

Her victory came after previous Olympic setbacks, including injuries and illness in earlier Games.

“In 2018, I tore my Achilles right before the games,” Meyers Taylor said. “In 2022, I had COVID, so to come into these games and actually feel good and be healthy, I was able to put on the performance of a lifetime.”

Beyond competition, Meyers Taylor emphasized the importance of representation in winter sports and expanding access for athletes from different backgrounds.

“No matter where you come from in this country, no matter what you look like or what income background is, or where you are regionally, winter sports can be for you,” she said.

Meyers Taylor added that her two sons continue to be her biggest inspiration to continue competing, even when roadblocks may try to stop her. Both her sons are deaf, and the family frequently communicates using American Sign Language (ASL), they often attend her games and were able to watch her win the gold medal in Cortina.

Following the historic win, Meyers Taylor has received continued support. She recently appeared in an interview with Flavor Flav, a long-time, outspoken supporter of women’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes. He often works to spotlight their achievements following the 2026 Winter Olympics, 

The athlete’s hometown of Douglasville, Georgia, has shown her support throughout her career, and will be hosting a parade to celebrate her success on March 21. 

“It really hasn’t sunk in yet that we actually won an Olympic championship,” she said. “The fact that we’re having a parade, I’m mind blown.”