CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — In an impressive display of resilience and talent, veteran bobsledders Elana Meyers Taylor and Kaillie Humphries Armbruster are set to compete in the women’s monobob event at the Milan Cortina Games. Both in their 40s, they are poised to make history as the first women in this age group to compete in Olympic bobsledding.
Meyers Taylor, aged 41, and Humphries Armbruster, 40, have each previously participated in four Olympic Games, returning home with medals each time. Meyers Taylor holds the record for the most medals won by a Black woman in Winter Games history, boasting five Olympic medals. Humphries Armbruster, on the other hand, has three gold medals, making her the most decorated female bobsledder in Olympic history. The duo now aims to extend their remarkable legacies on the international stage once again.
As they prepare to race this Sunday, both athletes are keenly aware of the significance of their participation. “It’s something that I’m very proud of, that I’ve been able to do it for this long, at this level,” said Humphries Armbruster, who has officially been named to six Olympic teams. Her journey began at the age of 17, and she reflects on her growth as an athlete with gratitude.
The competitive statistics of these athletes are impressive. Together, they have accumulated a staggering 130 World Cup medals and won 58 World Cup races in both monobob and two-woman events—37 victories for Humphries Armbruster and 21 for Meyers Taylor. Their achievements also include a combined total of 18 world championship medals, with Humphries Armbruster leading with ten, and nine Olympic medals, with Meyers Taylor ahead at five.
Both athletes have balanced their demanding careers with motherhood. Meyers Taylor is a mother of two, while Humphries Armbruster has one child. Their friendship and competitive spirit have only deepened since Humphries Armbruster obtained her U.S. passport before the Beijing 2022 Games, allowing them to race as teammates.
“The sense of history hasn’t sunk in, I think, because I’m still in it, because I am still fighting every day to try and win these medals,” said Meyers Taylor, who made headlines as the oldest medal winner in women’s Olympic bobsled history after earning two medals in Beijing. With an opportunity to further solidify her legacy, she is focused on the challenge ahead.
The U.S. women’s bobsled team, featuring Meyers Taylor and Humphries Armbruster, also includes Kaysha Love, the reigning world monobob champion. Love’s transition from a push athlete to a pilot has been commendable, and the trio collectively secured nine medals during the World Cup season, outperforming all nations except for Germany, which led with 60 medals in total.
Reflecting on her journey, Humphries Armbruster recalled her first Olympics at the Turin 2006 Games, where she was unexpectedly named an alternate. “Things always work out for the better,” she stated, emphasizing that her Olympic experience has been transformative. From that moment, she has become a prominent figure in the sport, alongside Meyers Taylor.
Both athletes have been pivotal in the evolution of women’s bobsledding, advocating for the inclusion of additional events. Their efforts contributed to the introduction of the monobob, which allows female athletes to compete in two events, paralleling the opportunities given to their male counterparts. Humphries Armbruster won the inaugural Olympic monobob gold in Beijing, with Meyers Taylor securing the silver.
As the competition approaches, Meyers Taylor expressed her excitement about participating and pursuing further success. “At the end of the day, I’m a kid sliding down a hill. I absolutely love it, and the fact that I’ve been able to win medals doing it, it’s crazy. Like, who does this?”
With their remarkable achievements and unwavering passion, Humphries Armbruster and Meyers Taylor are poised to leave an indelible mark on the sport once more as they compete for medals at the Milan Cortina Games.
