Due to this year’s Olympic COVID-19 policies, many athletes have experienced separation from their families. However, for USA Bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, this meant a particularly challenging parenting problem.
Alongside Nic Taylor, a Team USA athlete who serves as an alternate for the men’s bobsled team, Taylor was Beijing-bound. Although it is uncommon for family members to attend the Games during pandemic times, the family was cleared to bring their 2-year-old son Nico because he is still breastfeeding.
However, when the bobsledder tested positive for COVID, the mother and son had to be separated.
Although she had to give up the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be one of Team USA’s two flagbearers at the opening ceremony, the 37-year-old Olympian cited departing from her son as the most difficult aspect of this year’s Games. Speaking in reference to her circumstances, she commented, “This Olympics has been definitely the most challenging Olympics I’ve been to.”
“Longest as I’ve been away from (Nico), before this incident, was nine hours, I think,” the athlete shared when she spoke with TODAY. “At most.”
Since the two were separated, Taylor had to send bottles of breastmilk to Nico while she remained in isolation. In addition to breastmilk, she left her son handwritten notes to let him know she was thinking about him.
Taylor went on to explain how she dealt with the separation, relaying that taking it one step at a time was the best route. “I’m taking it hour by hour and just doing what I can to be the best I can in that hour and just know that it’s not always going to be perfect,” she said.
Elana Meyers Taylor cleared to compete during the 2022 Winter Games and cites son as her inspiration!
Thankfully, after her stay in isolation, the American athlete was cleared to compete in the women’s monobob competition. The Olympic veteran took home the silver medal, behind fellow American athlete Kaillie Humphries. Amazingly, she cited her son as her motivation for competing in the 2022 Olympics.
“I just want to show him that you can face obstacles and have challenges and overcome them and go after your goals,” Taylor voiced. “This Games has turned out to be one of the most challenging ones I’ve ever competed at, and I just want to show him that his mother never gave up.
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