Top Olympic Athlete Makes Surprise Appearance At Chapel Hill High

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — Three-time Olympic Medalist Elana Meyers Taylor delighted Chapel Hill High School students with a surprise appearance Thursday morning. The former Douglas County graduate is fresh off the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, where she won her third straight Olympic bobsled medal.

During the witty no holds barred conversation, the Douglasville native fielded questions from seniors on topics ranging from how to succeed in life after high school to the skinny on her workout music playlist.

Meyers Taylor’s biggest lesson for students was that from life’s biggest defeats come the biggest victories. “Be open to new experiences. You never know what will come your way,” Meyers Taylor explained. Meyers Taylor confessed that she never planned on going from softball to bobsledding. While a student at George Washington University, she spent her summers preparing for the Olympic trials in softball. Meyers Taylor says that when she did not make the Olympic softball team, it nearly crushed her. She cried for two days. Two months later, she started looking at another sport, which led her to bobsledding.

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Joined on stage by her husband and bobsled teammate, Nicholas "Nic" Taylor, the two shared humorous, inspiring lessons learned while preparing to compete at the international level. The bobsledding power couple told students that the challenges you overcome are more important than success.

The final piece of advice the Lithia Springs High School graduate had for students was “to surround yourself with people who give you energy.” Meyers Taylor told students there are energy stealers and energy givers. By surrounding yourself with energy givers, Meyers Taylor says, the sky is the limit.

Chapel Hill High School Track and Field coach Kelly Williams was instrumental in coordinating Meyers Taylor’s surprise unscripted visit. Principal Sean Kelly, Meyers Taylor’s former softball coach, was proud to welcome her to the Chapel Hill campus. While she played softball at Lithia Springs High, Kelly remembers Meyers Taylor as a passionate, powerful athlete. “Meyers Taylor has an important story to share. I am honored that she was able to come and inspire the next generation of athletes.”

Photos and video courtesy Douglas County School System