Heritage holiday for bobsled athlete and an alpine skier’s new furry friend
Elana Meyers Taylor took a trip to Jamaica with her husband and two children, exploring her heritage while taking time out to relax ahead of Olympic season.
“There’s something in the air of this small Caribbean island known for Bob Marley, reggae musician, Usain Bolt, jerk chicken, and yes Cool Runnings, that just feels like home to me,” the American bobsledder and five-time Olympic medallist wrote in a post in July.
“Growing up as a conglomeration of so many ethnicities I never felt like I had a culture of my own,” said the four-time Olympian whose lineage also includes Panama and Italy. “But now I see I have the great fortune to embody many cultures and Jamaican is just one of them.”
Her Italian heritage might just afford her some extra support too when it comes to the women’s two-person bobsled and monobob events that take place in the Cortina Sliding Centre in February.
“Summer is summering,” posted Su Yiming, who won gold on home snow at Beijing 2022. The Big Air Olympic champion’s photos told of moonlight swimming, country-road driving, and boating on pristine lakes.
Lindsey Vonn, meanwhile, decided that she needed a new furry friend – after the loss of her beloved pooch, Lucy in April – to keep her company as she aims to qualify for a fifth Olympic Games.
The American alpine skier returned to the sport last year after retiring in 2019 and is aiming to add to her gold and two bronze medals, should she make the US team for the Winter Olympics in Italy.
But why put herself through the rigours of training, stress, and hard work that competing at the highest level entails?
A post from 23 June, probably clears that up:
“As today is Olympic Day, it got me thinking about all the memories I have from the @olympics through the years…
Where do I even start? 🤯
I have given the Olympics everything I have, and it has given me the world back. 🌎 🙏🏻”