Ilana Myers Taylor makes Winter Olympic history as the oldest gold medal winner

American bobsledder Ilana Myers Taylor has won everything there is to win in the sport, except the Olympic gold medal.

That was until Monday, when, on her fifth attempt, she finally added that missing piece to her extraordinary collection.

The 41-year-old triumphed in the women’s monopop to become the oldest individual Olympic champion at the Winter Games, overtaking Austrian skier Benjamin Karl, 40.

The gold medal in Milan adds Cortina to the three silver and two bronze medals she has already won in two events — monobob and two-woman bobsleigh — since competing in her first Games in Vancouver 26 years ago.

Her combined time of 3:57:93 over four qualifying rounds was enough to edge out German Laura Nolte by just 0.04 seconds and compatriot Kelly Armbruster Humphreys by 0.12 seconds.

“Finally the gold! It’s taken long enough, hasn’t it?” Myers Taylor told BBC Sport.

“It just goes to show you that it means a lot to me to continue to persevere and for my team and everyone behind me to be Olympic champion.”

The victory makes her the most decorated bobsled leader of all time as well as the first mother to win Olympic bobsled gold.

The four-time world champion is also the most decorated black athlete at the Winter Olympics, and this is her sixth medal, tying her with speed skater Bonnie Blair for the most by American women.

But although she continues to write her name in the history books, for Myers Taylor it’s also about empowering female athletes and inspiring women.