Elana Meyers

Elana Meyers Taylor[1] (born Elana Alessandra Meyers; October 10, 1984), is an American bobsledder who has competed since 2007. Born in Oceanside, California, Meyers was raised in Douglasville, Georgia and is a graduate of The George Washington University, where she was a member of the softball team.[2]

Not to be confused with Elana Meyer (runner) or Elena Myers (motorcycle racer).

Elana Meyers Taylor
Elana Meyers Taylor (2019)
Personal information
Birth nameElana Alessandra Meyers
Born (1984-10-10) October 10, 1984
Oceanside, California
Websitewww.elanameyersusa.com
Medal record
Olympic Games
2014 SochiTwo-woman
2018 PyeongchangTwo-woman
2010 VancouverTwo-woman
World Championships
2012 Lake PlacidMixed team
2013 St. MoritzMixed team
2015 WinterbergTwo-woman
2017 KönigsseeTwo-woman
2009 Lake PlacidTwo-woman
2013 St. MoritzTwo-woman
2012 Lake PlacidTwo-woman
2016 IglsTwo-woman

Career

Meyers won the silver in the bobsled two-woman event with Shauna Rohbock at the 2009 FIBT World Championships in Lake Placid, New York.

She was named to the U.S. team for the 2010 Winter Olympics on January 16, 2010.

On February 24, 2010, Meyers along with Erin Pac won the bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Their first run has a time of 53.28. Their second run has a time of 53.05. Their third run has a time of 53.29. Their fourth run has a time of 53.78 for a total of 3:33.40 a difference of +1.12 from first place.

Meyers and brake-woman Katie Eberling placed second at the 2013 FIBT World Championships in St. Moritz .[3]

On February 19, 2014 Meyers along with Lauryn Williams won the silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Their first run has a time of 57.26, a track record. Their second run has a time of 57.63. Their third run has a time of 57.69. Their fourth run has a time of 58.13 for a total of 3:50.71 a difference of +0.10 from first place, just edged out by rival Canada 1, piloted by Kaillie Humphries and braked by Heather Moyse.

In April 2014, she took part in 2014 China Women's Sevens with United States women's national rugby union team (sevens)[4]

In September 2014, the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing announced it would allow mixed-gender crews to compete in four-man bobsleigh.[5] On 8 November, Meyers Taylor led a four-man crew to third place in the US trials, securing a place to compete for the US national team, despite only having four days training in a four-man sled.[1] On November 15, 2014, Meyers and Kaillie Humphries of Canada became the first women to compete with/against men in an international four-man bobsleigh competition, in the season-opening North American Cup race in Park City, Utah.[6] Meyers piloted her mixed-team's sled to a seventh-place finish, Humphries piloted hers to sixth.[6][7][8]

In February 2015, Meyers and pusher Cherrelle Garrett beat three German crews to win the first world championship title in women's bobsled for the United States.[9] This also made Meyers the first U.S. bobsled driver, either male or female, in 56 years to win a worlds title on a non-North American track.[9]

In February 2018, Meyers and pusher Lauren Gibbs won a silver medal in the two-woman bobsleigh event at the 2018 Winter Olympics.[10]

Personal life

Meyers married coach and fellow bobsledder Nic Taylor in April 2014.[1]

Meyers is a Christian. She has said, “One of the big reasons I was put in bobsled is to help people not only reach their goals, but come to Christ. God put me here for a specific reason and I don’t think it’s just to win medals. At the end of the day, I’m in this sport to glorify God, so if that means I come in last place or I win the gold medal, that’s what I’m going to do.”[11]

References
  1. Williams, Ollie (November 13, 2014). "I'll steer, you push: husband and wife break bobsled gender barrier". CNN.com. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  2. "George Washington Athletics Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  3. "Kaillie Humphries repeats at worlds". ESPN. January 26, 2013.
  4. "Olympic medal winner going for gold in Rugby". April 1, 2014. Archived from the original on April 6, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  5. BBC Sport staff (September 25, 2014). "Bobsleigh gives approval to mixed-gender teams". BBC Sport. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  6. Associated Press staff (November 16, 2014). "Women Make 4-Man Bobsled History in Utah". New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  7. "Ranking Finder - North American Cup/Bobsleigh 4-Men - Meyers Taylor, Elana". Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing. November 15, 2014. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  8. "Ranking Finder - North American Cup/Bobsleigh 4-Men - Humphries, Kallie". Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing. November 15, 2014. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  9. "Elana Meyers Taylor, Cherrelle Garrett win women's bobsled world championship - ESPN". Espn.go.com. 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  10. Final results
  11. "Elana Meyers: "I'm in this sport to glorify God"". Retrieved March 5, 2020.
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