Most Olympians raise their fists, pump the air, or shout in triumph after a run. However, at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, America’s bobsled legend Elana Meyers Taylor has added another gesture. After nearly every descent, the veteran athlete raises her hand in a sign-language gesture of love and connection as a heartfelt message to two very important fans waiting for her in the stands.
Meyers Taylor’s latest outing on the slopes of the Milan-Cortina came on Monday, February 16, in the women’s monobob competition. In this event, she finally won her first-ever Olympic gold medal, recording a total time of 3:57.93 and besting teammate Laura Nolte, who finished at 3:57.97 in second place. The bronze medal was claimed by Kaillie Humphries, who recorded 3:58.05.
Why does Elana Meyers Taylor use sign language after her runs?
The 41-year-old’s Olympic journey has long been defined by perseverance and resilience. Over two decades, she battled injuries, setbacks, and the relentless physical demands of bobsledding. However, nothing has shaped her outlook more than becoming a mother. Even though she won the gold medal, the moment that took center stage in Milan was her gesture towards her sons.
Meyers Taylor has two sons, Nico and Noah, and both of them were born with profound hearing loss. Her older one, Nico, also has Down syndrome. Always after completing her races, she gestures towards her sons and did the same after winning the gold. She often lifts her hand with thumb, index finger, and pinky extended, which is the American Sign Language for ‘I love you.’
For most athletes, podium celebrations are about medals. She has become accustomed to the sign effortlessly. It is a silent but powerful declaration meant for her two sons. Her family learned the sign language together so that communication would be seamless, and the Olympian now uses it as a bridge between her world on the track and their world in the stands.
Elana Meyers Taylor called her sons her biggest motivator
Before her performance in the monobob competition, Elana Meyers Taylor spoke to 9News, where she expressed her feelings for her sons, Nico and Noah. Calling them her biggest motivators, she said that it was an amazing experience for her.
“They’re my biggest motivators to have them by my side and to see me day in and day out doing what I’m doing. It’s just the coolest experience,” said Elana Meyers Taylor.
The American further opened up about how much has changed since her appearance at the 2022 Olympic Games.
“It’s crazy how much everything can change in just a short time. Like now they’re able to watch races and understand and see what’s going on. And I remember when we first had Noah on tour, like he would watch the race and see mommy on TV and not understand that mommy’s coming back, that mommy’s just down the road and mommy’s just doing her race for a little bit of time and she’ll be back in the room pretty soon. So, he had a hard time with it at the beginning but now he really understands that, and every time he sees a bottle, he signs mama. So, it’s been cool to see.”
With her recent win at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Elana Meyers Taylor now has six Olympic medals, including one gold, three silver, and two bronze medals.
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