Jonathan (Jon) Montgomery

Sport: Skeleton
Residence: Calgary, Alberta
Born: May 1979

Not long after moving to Calgary from Russell, Man. to work as an auctioneer, 22-year-old Jonathan Montgomery took his parents to see Canada Olympic Park.

What he saw opened his eyes.

“I saw a fella fly by me head-first on his stomach. I thought it was a horrible luge accident,” Montgomery said in a recent interview with Canadian Press.

It was actually the sport of skeleton.

Days later he tried signing up for a workshop named Discover Skeleton, but was told it was full and he could only attend if someone cancelled. A cold snap in the weather turned into a lucky break for Montgomery—several people failed to show up.

Montgomery had left work early that day in the off chance a spot would open up.
He experienced an unforgettable rush of adrenaline on his very first run, rushing head-first down an icy chute, his nose less than 75 mm of the track. By the end of the workshop, he had made four runs down the track at COP. And he was hooked on skeleton, the sport from which bobsled and luge evolved. (Skeleton didn’t become an official Olympic sport until 2002, the same year Montgomery took it up.)

Almost from the beginning, Montgomery dreamed of going to the Olympics.
In an interview with CTV sports, he said: “I was talking to a teammate of mine, and he remembers when I started, this conversation. I don't. It was rather crazy. ... I said, ‘I want to go to the Olympics.’

The die was cast, although Montgomery struggled for the first two years of his sledding career. But he never stopping dreaming—or working toward his goal.

This February he’ll go the Vancouver 2010 Games ranked as the fifth-best male slider in the world and Canada’s top prospect for a medal in the men’s single event.

More about Jon …
Birthplace: Russell, Manitoba
Education: Automotive business and international management, Northwood University, Texas
Career: Auto sales and auctioneer
Club: Canada Olympic Park
Other pursuits: grew up playing hockey and baseball
Website

Milestones:
• Second overall in 2008 World Cup standings
• Second at 2008 World Championships in Altenberg, Germany
• First at 2008 Canadian Championships in Calgary
• First at 2008 World Cup in Cesana, Italy
• Second at 2008 World Cup in Winterberg, Germany
• First at 2007 Canadian Championships in Calgary
• Second at 2007 World Cup in lake Placid, New York
• Third at 2007 World Cup in Calgary

Return to Heroes Listing >>