Olympian with metro Atlanta roots wins first gold medal

Elana Meyers Taylor adds to her record as the most decorated Black athlete at the Winter Olympics.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Elana Meyers Taylor, a 41-year-old Olympian with roots in Douglasville, Georgia, won a gold medal in women's monobob at the Winter Olympics. This is her first gold medal, extending her record as the most decorated Black athlete at the Winter Olympics. She was born in California but grew up in the metro Atlanta area.

Why it matters

Meyers Taylor's gold medal victory is a significant achievement, as she has won medals in four previous Olympics but never the top prize. Her success highlights the growing prominence of athletes with ties to the metro Atlanta region on the global stage.

The details

Meyers Taylor won the gold medal in women's monobob by just four hundredths of a second. This is her sixth career Olympic medal, cementing her status as the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history. She was born in Oceanside, California, but grew up in Douglasville, Georgia, where her father, Eddie Meyers, worked as the regional president for PNC Bank for 25 years before retiring in 2024.

  • Meyers Taylor won the gold medal in women's monobob at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
  • Her father, Eddie Meyers, retired from PNC Bank in 2024 after a 25-year career.

The players

Elana Meyers Taylor

A 41-year-old Olympian who won the gold medal in women's monobob at the 2026 Winter Olympics, extending her record as the most decorated Black athlete at the Winter Games.

Eddie Meyers

Elana Meyers Taylor's father, who retired in 2024 as the regional president for PNC Bank in Georgia after a successful 25-year career with the bank.

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The takeaway

Elana Meyers Taylor's gold medal victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics is a testament to her perseverance and athletic excellence, as well as the growing influence of athletes with ties to the metro Atlanta region on the global sports stage.