American bobsleigh veteran Elana Meyers Taylor had won everything there is to win in the sport – except for Olympic gold.
That was until Monday when, on her fifth attempt, she finally added that missing piece to her extraordinary collection.
The 41-year-old triumphed in the women’s monobob to become the oldest individual Olympic champion at a Winter Games, overtaking Austrian snowboarder Benjamin Karl, 40.
Gold at Milan-Cortina adds to the three silver and two bronze medals she has already won across two events – the monobob and the two-woman bobsleigh – since competing at her first Games in Vancouver 16 years ago.
Her combined time of 3:57:93 over four heats was enough to edge out Germany’s Laura Nolte by just 0.04 seconds and compatriot Kaillie Armbruster Humphries by 0.12secs.
“Finally the gold! It took long enough, right?” Meyers Taylor told BBC Sport.
“It just goes to show you… just to keep persevering, my team and everybody behind me, it means so much to come away as Olympic champion.”
Victory makes her the most decorated female bobsleigh pilot of all time as well as the first mother to win Olympic bobsleigh gold.
The four-time world champion is also the most decorated black athlete at a Winter Olympics and this, her sixth medal, ties her with speed skater Bonnie Blair for the most by an American woman.
But although she continues to write her name in the history books, for Meyers Taylor it is also about empowering female athletes and inspiring women.
www.bbc.com
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