Olympic Gold Medalist Elana Meyers Taylor Calls Texas Home

When Elana Meyers Taylor crossed the finish line in Italy and won her first Olympic gold medal, she broke down in tears and signed "champion" to her deaf son Noah, who was watching from home in New Braunfels, Texas.

The victory in February's monobob competition made Taylor a six-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated Black Olympian in history. But the win meant something deeper: showing her two sons, both deaf and one with Down syndrome, that obstacles are meant to be overcome.

"I wanted to show them that regardless of what happens in life, you can overcome your obstacles," Taylor said. "I wanted to show them their mom falling and getting back up, because you're going to fail in life."

Taylor edged Germany's Laura Nolte by just 0.04 seconds in the one-woman sled event at her fifth Olympic Games. The monobob is lighter and requires different skills than the heavier four-person sled, similar to the difference between driving a two-wheel-drive car versus a four-wheel-drive truck in snow, she explained.

On March 14, New Braunfels threw Taylor a hometown parade to celebrate her historic achievement. The night before, she nervously asked her husband, "What if nobody shows up?" The turnout proved she had nothing to worry about.

Why This Inspires

Taylor didn't choose New Braunfels randomly. She picked this Texas Hill Country city for its exceptional school district resources for children with special needs, proximity to Texas School for the Deaf, and inclusive classroom offerings.

"New Braunfels School District has been great working with my boys," Taylor said. The district seamlessly converted her son's IEP to an ARD and created a perfect program for him.

Beyond academics, Taylor found something equally valuable: a safe, family-oriented community where her sons could thrive. The world has already told Noah and Nico "no" so many times, she said, which fuels her determination to teach them they can turn every "no" into a "yes."

Now Taylor balances motherhood, championship bobsledding, and showing her boys what perseverance looks like up close. Her message resonates far beyond the icy tracks: success isn't about never falling; it's about always getting back up.