Feisty Female Friday: Elana Myers Taylor

The FFF this week is Elana Myers Taylor.

Elana is the oldest woman to compete in and win a gold medal in the 2026 Winter Olympics. She is a bobsledder who holds the record for the Most Winter Olympic Medals by a Black athlete in history.

She grew up in GA and is a graduate of GWU where she was a member of the softball team who then became interested in bobsledding. After three silver and two bronze medals at the previous Olympic Games, Elana is also a four-time World Champion, winning two gold medals each in the two-woman and mixed team events. She was also the first U.S. bobsled driver, either male or female, in 56 years to win a worlds title on a non-North American track and also won a silver medal in the two-woman bobsleigh event at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Elana was chosen as a flag bearer for the 2022 U.S. Olympic team but was unable to attend the opening ceremony due to testing positive for COVID-19.

Elana gives her children a shout-out for their constant support during her intense training and how they have been with her every step of the way. Her two deaf sons travel with her on tour and have made her more adaptable in her sport and in life. The most decorated female bobsledder of all time has also had encouragement from her husband, who is a former Olympian bobsledder himself.

She served as president of the Women's Sports Foundation and now serves on the board. GWU presented Elana with an honorary doctorate and the President's Medal.
Elana and her family live in Texas.