CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — It was the women's monobob in Cortina Tuesday night, with Team USA sledder Kaysha Love, of Herriman, competing against the world's best.
It was not a great night for Love, who finished seventh and failed to reach the podium after a difficult run earlier in the competition. But it was a great night for Team USA.
Kaillie Armbruster Humphries earned the bronze medal, while Elana Meyers Taylor raced to gold. Both medalists are over 40. Both are mothers of young children.
"All those people, all those haters that like to say, 'Once you're 40 you're over the hill,' or 'Once you're a mom, you can't be back on top of the podium,' I think that's not true," Humphries said.
Meyers Taylor called the victory the highlight of her career.
"Oh, this is definitely the top," she said. "Not only Olympic champion, but to be able to do this with both my kids — it's just incredible."
After the race, Love was seen being comforted by longtime supporter and 1980s hip-hop star Flavor Flav.
Though disappointed, she celebrated her teammates' success and said the moment was inspiring.
"To watch Elana Meyers Taylor win her first gold medal when she's been in the sport for 20 years was so inspiring, and it was a big win for our country," Love said. "I love that Team USA's mantra is, 'One of us can do it for all of us,' and that's exactly what she did."
Love will compete again in the two-woman bobsled event in the coming days.
It added up to a big night for Team USA — and, as the medalists themselves put it, a big night for moms of a certain age.
