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American bobsleigh veteran Elana Meyers Taylor had won everything there is to win in the sport – except for Olympic gold.<\/b><\/p>\n
That was until Monday when, on her fifth attempt, she finally added that missing piece to her extraordinary collection.<\/p>\n
The 41-year-old triumphed in the women’s monobob to become the oldest individual Olympic champion at a Winter Games, overtaking Austrian snowboarder Benjamin Karl, 40.<\/p>\n
Gold at Milan-Cortina adds to the three silver and two bronze medals she has already won across two events – the monobob and the two-woman bobsleigh – since competing at her first Games in Vancouver 26 years ago.<\/p>\n
Her combined time of 3:57:93 over four heats was enough to edge out Germany’s Laura Nolte by just 0.04 seconds and compatriot Kaillie Armbruster Humphries by 0.12secs.<\/p>\n
“Finally the gold! It took long enough, right?” Meyers Taylor told BBC Sport.<\/p>\n
“It just goes to show you… just to keep persevering, my team and everybody behind me, it means so much to come away as Olympic champion.”<\/p>\n
Victory makes her the most decorated female bobsleigh pilot of all time as well as the first mother to win Olympic bobsleigh gold.<\/p>\n
The four-time world champion is also the most decorated black athlete at a Winter Olympics and this, her sixth medal, ties her with speed skater Bonnie Blair for the most by an American woman.<\/p>\n
But although she continues to write her name in the history books, for Meyers Taylor it is also about empowering female athletes and inspiring women.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n