Elena Meyers Taylor
Three-Time Olympic Bobsledding Medalist
SPEAKER FEE RANGE: $30,000–$38,000 [FEE NOTE]
TRAVELS FROM: Georgia
A pioneer in the sport, she is the first woman to ever pilot a four-man bobsled team in the international competition and the only woman to win a medal doing so. Not just a champion athlete, she has an MBA in finance and a Master's in business management.
No road to the Olympic Games is ever easy, but few have seen the challenges faced by Elana as she fought to get back to the Olympics after giving birth to her first child, son Nico. Born pre-maturely via emergency c-section and in neonatal intensive care, Nico was diagnosed with severe hearing loss and Down syndrome. He battled for his life for eight long days. After finally coming home, the pandemic hit. Elana had to figure out how to be a special needs mom in the house, and train as an elite Olympic athlete in the garage, all at the same time. She clawed her way back to the top of her sport, bringing Nico and her husband Nick around the world on the international bobsled circuit trying desperately to earn a spot on the Olympic team. Throughout it all she was never away from Nico for more than a few hours.
She earned her spot on the Olympic Team and arrived to Beijing. She was elected by Team USA to carry the American Flag into the Opening Ceremony. She then tested positive for Covid. For the next nine days she was isolated in a hotel room, unable to carry the flag, and for the first time ever, away from her baby. During this time she pumped breastmilk to be passed to her son in between workouts with makeshift weights in a hotel room, fighting demons of solitary confinement, missing valuable on-ice training, and trying to stay focused on the goal. With no time to spare, she finally tested negative, was cleared to compete and went on to win not one, but two Olympic medals. She became a 5-Time Olympic Medalist and the most decorated athlete of color to ever compete in the Olympic Winter Games. She was then re-elected by her Team USA teammates to carry the American Flag at the Closing Ceremony, becoming the first athlete in history to be named Flag Bearer for both the Opening and Closing Ceremony. Hear the stunning story of her resilience from one of the strongest women you’ll ever meet.
She earned her spot on the Olympic Team and arrived to Beijing. She was elected by Team USA to carry the American Flag into the Opening Ceremony. She then tested positive for Covid. For the next nine days she was isolated in a hotel room, unable to carry the flag, and for the first time ever, away from her baby. During this time she pumped breastmilk to be passed to her son in between workouts with makeshift weights in a hotel room, fighting demons of solitary confinement, missing valuable on-ice training, and trying to stay focused on the goal. With no time to spare, she finally tested negative, was cleared to compete and went on to win not one, but two Olympic medals. She became a 5-Time Olympic Medalist and the most decorated athlete of color to ever compete in the Olympic Winter Games. She was then re-elected by her Team USA teammates to carry the American Flag at the Closing Ceremony, becoming the first athlete in history to be named Flag Bearer for both the Opening and Closing Ceremony. Hear the stunning story of her resilience from one of the strongest women you’ll ever meet.
- A Conversation with Elena Myers Taylor
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