One of the strongest stories of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics came from the slopes of Cortina d'Ampezzo, where American Elana Meyers-Taylor won her first Olympic gold medal in the mono-bob. At 41, she became one of the oldest champions in Winter Olympic history.
The American athlete secured victory after a strong recovery in the final descents, fulfilling a dream that had haunted her for five Olympics. After the success, she burst into tears and celebrated with her two children.
Beyond sports, her story is also a unique family story. Meyers-Taylor is the mother of two boys, who are deaf, with the eldest having Down syndrome. She has spoken often about the challenges of raising them and the fact that the family uses sign language in everyday life.
Her career has been marked by serious accidents and difficult moments, but she remains one of the most respected figures in ice skating, sending a strong message that age is no barrier to reaching the top of the sport.
