US bobsleigher Meyers-Taylor becomes most decorated Black athlete at Winter Games

American bobsleigher Elana Meyers Taylor spoke of her pride Saturday at becoming the most decorated Black athlete in the history of the Winter Olympics.

Meyers Taylor won the bronze medal in the two-woman event at the Beijing Games to add to the silver she took in the inaugural running of the monobob event.

She had already collected three medals in previous Olympics, giving her a total of five to overtake speed skater Shani Davis -- Meyers Taylor called that "pretty cool".

Meyers Taylor, 37, said she had been inspired by Vonetta Flowers, the American former long jumper who won the two-woman bobsleigh event at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

"There's a lot of people that came before me. Vonetta Flowers is the reason I'm here, and Shani Davis, and even Erin Jackson (who won speed skating gold in Beijing)," she said.

"It's just been such a long legacy of Black athletes at the Winter Olympics and hopefully it just continues."

She said she did not set out to be an inspiration.

"I just try to go out there every day and be myself and work so hard to just be a good person and I believe good things happen if you just be kind."