jon montgomery

Born on May 6, 1979, in Russell, Manitoba, Jonathan Riley Montgomery developed an early interest in sports. His Olympic dream was ignited after witnessing the men’s hockey team secure gold at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics. Later that year, during a visit to Canada Olympic Park with his parents, he observed a skeleton race. This experience led him to enroll in a ‘Discover Skeleton’ school, marking the beginning of his competitive career in the sport. Montgomery made his World Cup debut in November 2006 in Calgary, where he immediately showcased his talent by winning a bronze medal in his inaugural event. His early career progression included earning a silver medal at the World Championships in 2008 and finishing second overall in the 2007–08 Skeleton World Cup standings, reinforced by four podium finishes.

Montgomery’s greatest athletic achievement came at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. On his home track in Whistler, where he had previously won the World Cup Olympic test event, he secured a gold medal in men’s skeleton. He achieved this by delivering the fastest times in the final three heats, including a track record of 52.20 seconds in his third run, ultimately winning by a margin of 0.07 seconds. This victory was famously followed by a celebratory walk through Whistler Village, where he accepted and drank from a pitcher of beer offered by a fan, an iconic moment that endeared him to the Canadian public. In 2011-12, Montgomery took a season away from competition to focus on sled development, returning the following year with the aim of defending his Olympic title in Sochi. Although he did not qualify for the 2014 Winter Olympics, marking the end of his skeleton racing career, his pivot to television began in 2013 when he became the host of CTV’s ‘The Amazing Race Canada,’ a role he has maintained for 11 seasons. In 2019, he was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

Beyond his athletic and television career, Montgomery has continued to engage with various audiences as a speaker, drawing on his experiences in competitive sports and television hosting. He has made appearances at significant events, including ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ and the Juno Awards, where he participated in a charity auction. His work has involved both youth and corporate audiences, sharing insights on themes of perseverance and achieving goals. He is married to Darla Montgomery, also a former skeleton athlete, and they have two children, Jaxon Mark Montgomery (born 2016) and Lennon (born 2019). Outside of his media commitments, Montgomery has previous experience as a sales consultant and automobile auctioneer in Calgary, underscoring his diverse professional background.