Beijing Winter Olympics 2022: USA's Kaillie Humphries becomes the first-ever mono bob gold medallist

USA's Kaillie Humphries clinched her inaugural gold medal in the mono bob at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics just two and a half months after becoming a US citizen. She is now a 3-time Olympic champion following her gold medals in two-man in 2014 and 2010.

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Kaillie Humphries produced the final run of 1:05.30 to cross the finish line. With an overall time of 4:19.27, she finished the fourth heat and made the medal to her name. She emerged victorious at a margin of 1.54 seconds. In fact, this is the largest margin in an Olympic bobsled race in the last 42 years.

Humphries said after the victory, "This one feels more emotional than most. It just really hits the heartstrings a little bit to know that I had to fight so hard for something that I wanted, and I had the backing and the support, and the nation stood behind me, and it worked. I get to bring home a gold medal for a country that believes in me and a team that really backed me over these last four years." 

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Elana Meyers from the USA won the silver. Meyers Taylor said after the win, "This is better than gold. This is definitely the most difficult medal I've ever earned. It's definitely been the hardest journey to get here. So this is the most special, by far, and I am so excited to take it back to my son."

Both the Olympians hugged each other while waiting for the medals ceremony. They wrapped the U.S. flag around their shoulders and celebrated the win.