Bobsledder snatches Olympic gold and runs to hug her kids’ nanny first. The reason has fans in tears
Taylor even taught her kids 'gold medal' in sign language before her Olympic showdown. 'I didn't know if I would get to use them,' the celebrity said.
American bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, 41, finally won her first Olympic gold medal at the Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. With her historic win, the mom of two is now tied with speedskater Bonnie Blair for the most Winter Olympic medals won by a U.S. woman. Besides, Taylor also became the oldest Winter Olympian to win an individual gold medal, surpassing a record by Austrian snowboarder Benjamin Karl, according to Yahoo Sports. But what makes her achievement extra special is her beautiful celebration with Macy Lynn, her kids' nanny, post-win.
The first person Taylor hugged after her win was not her husband or her kids, but her nanny, who helps her raise two kids with special needs. As she broke down, realizing she'd achieved what she once believed was impossible, Lynn also cried, seeing Taylor step into her long-awaited moment. "It took so many people to be here. It took so much work for everybody. My husband. My kids. My nanny is Macy. My nannies along the way. My parents. Everybody. I’m just so grateful right now," Taylor told the press. The athlete also thanked her nanny for being able to get her kids onto the stage and for allowing her to live the beautiful moment with them. "They (her kids) were kind of confused about why I was crying and didn't understand, but eventually they did understand that I was a champion, so it was great," Taylor recalled the moment in an interview with CBS News. The Olympic gold medalist also shared that while she does acknowledge the fact that she has been beautifully balancing her professional and personal life, it couldn't have been possible without the support of her friends, family, and, of course, her nannies.
In fact, a few weeks before Christmas, Taylor was in Norway preparing for a World Cup race when she had almost decided to quit. Exhausted, she texted her husband, "I am done." However, Nic, her husband, a performance coach for the San Antonio Spurs, didn't let her quit. He even travelled to Norway to support his wife in person.
Taylor and her husband, Nic, both carried a gene mutation that resulted in their children being born deaf. Moreover, their older son, Nico, also has Down syndrome. However, the parents refused to limit their kids to their conditions and learned sign language to communicate with them. In fact, Taylor had even taught her kids "gold medal" in sign language before her Olympic showdown — just in case she won it, and she'd have to communicate it to them. "I didn't know if I would get to use them. Like, I was hopeful that I would be able to use them, but to go over all the signs with them and then to actually have that moment, it was really cool," she added.
Motherhood is, of course, a rewarding experience, but for most, it brings along great sacrifices. For instance, Zety’s Motherhood & Work Impact Report surveyed nearly 1,000 American working moms and found that 87% have missed promotions or opportunities at work after becoming a mom. Likewise, 90% of working mothers adjusted their career path due to parenthood, and more than half (59%) had to change their industries completely. The same survey found that 84% reported that their pregnancy was treated as an inconvenience at work. The startling data explains why Taylor felt so grateful for her nannies, who took care of her kids and allowed her to live her professional dreams.
Meanwhile, reacting to Taylor's incredible gesture, @lcwgateway20 commented, "It takes a village [to raise a child]. It is just awesome for her to acknowledge her support." @livingadclife wrote, "And she herself is an Olympian — so she is committed to supporting those around her in achieving their dreams. Collectively, we are stronger when we invest in supporting one another." @paxymusic shared, "This is wonderful! Even after 17 years, our two long-term nannies remain a beloved part of our family. I truly believe that without these two incredible women, I would not have been able to accomplish what I have, and my daughter might not be bilingual today. Becoming fluent in another language while speaking English requires daily consistency and loving reinforcement from an early age. And I have them to thank."
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