In recognition of the beauty, uniqueness, and unrelenting spirit of black women who consistently persevere, My Black Is Beautiful celebrates those who boldly push their limits; Women like Olympic athlete Elana Meyers Taylor who, out of sheer will, challenged herself to master a new sport and teach the boys that women do bobsled, and they do win.
When Taylor decided to take up bobsledding in 2007, she was a collegiate softball player with zero experience in winter sports. In fact, the Camp Pendleton, California native didn't even own a winter coat, but after watching Vonetta Flowers win gold at the Olympic Winter Games in 2002, she was inspired to give it a shot. Although a complete novice to bobsledding, the sport reminded her of one of her favorite childhood pastimes – skateboarding downhill on her stomach and back. Ten years later, Meyers Taylor is a decorated Olympic athlete whose ability to persevere has earned her top ranking in the sport.
Clearly not one for conventionality, 33-year-old athlete even trains differently. "I train with track athletes, which is weird for bobsledders," Meyers Taylor said in an interview with NBC. "I love training with track athletes because they help me work on my speed and they give me something to cheer for during the Olympic Summer Games."
In 2014, those years of preparation paid off in a big way when she and her partner Kaillie Humphries made history as the first woman in many months to drive a four-man bobsled in the World Cup competition. “There were some little girls at the track that were excited to watch women’s bobsled today, and hopefully what Kaillie and I are doing inspires them,” Meyers Taylor said at the time. “I hope someday a woman racing in four-man isn’t news.”
When bobsledding first allowed women to race, nobody wanted Taylor in their sled with her, so her husband joined her to stand up against this bias. Taylor persevered and proved that women couldn’t be just as good, if not better, at the task. For that alone, Taylor deserves praise and recognition.
We see you, sis! Elana Meyers Taylor epitomizes the spirit of #BlackGirlsDo
Presented by P&G and My Black is Beautiful