Joyous scream: Metro Atlanta bobsledder wins bronze

By Larry Hartstein

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Bobsledder Elana Meyers of Douglasville heard a scream as she and driver Erin Pac crossed the finish line.

"I didn't know what was going on," Meyers, 25, told the Washington Post. "I thought something was wrong at first. It was incredible. And then I figured out she was screaming -- and it was a good scream."

Pac was screaming because she saw the scoreboard: USA-2 had clinched a medal. Pac and Meyers ended up third behind two Canadian sleds after the fourth and final run Wednesday night.

A softball standout at George Washington University, Meyers described what it was like to win a bronze medal in a sport she didn't try until three years ago.

"To be in this position is pretty amazing," Meyers told the Post.

"After giving up softball, I didn't know what I was going to do. I thought I would try bobsled, but I wasn't really sure what would happen. I thought my athletic career was over. To be sitting here right now, it's nothing but God-inspired."

With the Americans' two others sleds out of serious contention Wednesday, the pressure was on Pac and her brakeman Meyers to extend Team USA's streak of earning a medal for the third straight Olympics. They were in second place after two runs Tuesday.

"I pretty much ignored my family," Pac told the Post. "I didn't talk to them, just because I knew they'd ask a lot of questions. My boyfriend was the only one I talked to, just so I could keep my head clear. Moms, you know how they can be. They want to ask a lot. I love her dearly, but I didn't want to put any extra pressure on myself getting other thoughts in my head."

"Erin was great," Meyers added.

Their sled finished 1.12 seconds out of first.

Women's bobsled came into the Olympics in 2002. Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers won gold at Salt Lake, followed by Shauna Rohbock and Valerie Fleming taking silver in Torino in 2006. Pac and Meyers kept the streak alive.

"It's been so much fun," Meyers told the Post, "and such a whirlwind."

Meyers and Pac will receive their medals Thursday night.

Wednesday night might have been Pac and Meyers' final run together. Meyers will try to learn to become a driver next month. Pac will be there to cheer her on.

Talk of driving school, for now, can wait. There's a medal to savor.

"I can't even put into words how great this feels right now," Meyers said.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.