Douglasville’s Elana Meyers Taylor is heading to Beijing to compete as a bobsledder at the Olympic Games. And while this may be her fourth Olympic appearance, it’s her first as a mother.
“I don’t know how this will all turn out at the Olympics, but I just wanted to show it’s possible,” she said in a passionate Instagram post.
The 37-year-old Olympian is a new mom who hopes her return to competition inspires others after giving birth.
“It’s possible to have a baby and come back from pregnancy and continue competing. It’s possible to do extended breastfeeding and physically perform better than most in the works. It’s possible to travel the world with your family, including a baby, and win races. It’s possible to parent a child with special needs and continue to chase your dreams,” Taylor said.
“I hope that other federations and governing bodies can see what I’ve been able to achieve and encourage their athletes to make the best decisions for themselves and their families,” she continued.
Despite “moments of doubt and extreme highs and lows” on the road to returning as an Olympic athlete, Taylor said she hopes she’s made a difference and that the road ahead will be much easier for the women who come after her.
Watch Taylor in the first women’s monobob event on Feb. 12 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.
