Elana Meyers Taylor is a 3-time Olympic medalist in the sport of Bobsled (2010, 2014 and 2018) who has made an immense impact on the athletic and other widespread communities. The George Washington University softball alumni made the transition into the thrilling sport of bobsled and made history by winning a spot on the men's U.S. National Team's four-person bobsled team. She also was the first woman in U.S. history to win the World Championships in the women's two-person event in 2015.

Meyers Taylor has her name written across many record books and is continuing to leave a lasting imprint as the acting President of the Women's Sports Foundation. She has seen many instances of gender inequality in the athletic community and is hoping to make changes towards equality. Meyers Taylor looks back at her past to see how it has impacted where she is now, and where she hopes to go.

How did you decide to make the transition from NCAA Softball to USA Bobsled?

Elana: “It was my mom's idea, I would have never come up with bobsled by myself. It was my mom's idea to give it a try, she could see that they were always looking for talent so she suggested I try. So then I googled it and emailed the coach and was invited to a tryout.”

How did being a D1 student-athlete help you prepare for the continuation of your athletic career?

Elana: “First was time management, I still have to figure that out some days! Just having the time where you are completely focused on school and completely focused on your sport while having to separate your day into those chunks of time helped me tremendously. Another thing is having the commitment to a goal, whether it was part of a team, individual was very helpful to transition. Having to build a team for softball has helped in bobsled because many of the athletes who compete in bobsled have a track-and-field background who do not have a concept of a team. So the leadership skills that I learned as being a captain of the GW softball team really helped me try to figure out how to put together a mis-matched group of girls who are not yet a team.”

What is something you wish you knew when you were in high school?

Elana: “I wish I had more perspective in high school, that's the biggest thing. I thought softball was the entire world and that was the only thing that mattered. Even when I started [at college] softball was the only thing that mattered. I came to GW with the intention of becoming a softball coach, softball was my life, but it ended up getting a little toxic in that sense because it took over everything. Instead of engaging in the GW community early in the softball career, it was studying and softball, that is all I thought I had time for. Later in my years I made friend that I have to this day and got more involved in the community, I worked, I did other things. Having perspective and that the world does not revolve around softball, there are other things out there. The people I have met have really enriched my experience more than the sport… it's about the people, not the medals.”

In 2015, you made history becoming the first women in US history to earn a spot on the men's 4-man bobsled. How did this come to be?

Elana: “Part of it was because I saw day after day the four-man sleds with men driving it with much less skill than I had. These men were allowed to go into four man and given 2 races and things of that nature that just never made sense to me. I was like why would  these men who could barely get down the track were able to drive the sleds and able to do these competitions. It was something that many other women and myself fight for and they finally allowed us to race in these races. I was like yes this is my opportunity, I have to take advantage of this regardless of how difficult it might be, I jumped at it with full force.”

What role has your mental health played in your career?

Elana: “Mental health has played a very big role in my career. I worked with a sports psychologists for  the sports-side of things. Also, I have a history with concussions, and part of that history has emotional and mental aspects. I have a lot of emotional problems that I continue to work through to this day. This was a major thing, what actually got me diagnosed with the concussion was that I kind of became erratic and I was having a lot of emotional problems related to my concussion, that's what brought it up.”

“Part of it is continuing to work with people and another part is reaching out for help. This is so entirely important. That is something that I did not understand especially when I was going through, just how important that was; there is nothing wrong with me. Yes I have had concussions, yes I have limited brain flow to some of the emotional centers of my brain, yes, but that is not my fault. That is nothing that is wrong with me. I am not a bad person because I have this problem, but being able to recognize that and to reach out for help is crucial. That is something that more athletes need to know about and be aware of. Let me say there is nothing wrong with you, all you need is a little help, that is nothing to be ashamed about.”

You have been involved with the Women's Sports Foundation for more than 8 years now, how has that impacted you?

Elana: “Tremendously. The first time I went to the annual gala of Salute to Women in Sports and walked in there and the first athlete I met was Laila Ali. This is an athlete that I have looked up to my entire life, so to be in the same room and think that I could be on the same platform as her was incredible. Having that experience and being introduced to powerful women and learning from them has had a tremendous impact on me.”

“Having Billie Jean King as an inspiration! When you think about the things and equality that we are fighting for now compared to her fight? Of course I am going to open up my mouth. Look at all that she had to go through to get ME to this point. I have an obligation to open up my mouth and fight for things like equal locker rooms. She was fighting for equal pay and now we want equal locker rooms! When you have that kind of legacy, it inspires you to do so much more for your sport.”

What does being the President of Women's Sports Foundation mean to you and what do you hope to accomplish?

Elana: “Part of it is to make sure that Title IX is really strong; I know it is under attack a little bit this year, but we want to continue to ensure that it is strong and that women are continuing to be protected on campus, as athletes, and with their education. Also continue to fight for legislation for the US Olympic committee and making sure girls and women are being represented well within that organization. Also want to see the foundation continue to grow as far as engaging our athletes and working with athlete ambassadors to hold events.”

What is your advice to all the student-athletes reading this?

Elana:“Take advantage of your athletic career. It's a short window, but the people you meet will make all the difference. Keep in touch with the people you meet and the opportunities you have, those will take you far. A lot of the people that I have competed with or against have come in handy later in life more than I could have ever thought. To be able to come back to my alma mater and engage with the community is incredible.”

* Originally published on March 27, 2019, by Jennifer Cone