Jon Montgomery

Jon Montgomery
Born	Jonathan Riley Montgomery (1979-05-06) May 6, 1979 Russell, Manitoba, Canada
Occupation(s)	Skeleton racer, television presenter, auctioneer, sales consultant
Years active	2002–present
Known for	2010 Olympic gold medalist in men's skeleton; host of The Amazing Race Canada

Jonathan Riley "Jon" Montgomery (born May 6, 1979, in Russell, Manitoba) is a Canadian athlete specializing in skeleton racing and a television presenter. He secured the gold medal in the men’s skeleton competition during the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, British Columbia. Although he has been hosting The Amazing Race Canada since 2013, Montgomery is predominantly remembered across Canada for his impromptu celebration after clinching gold in 2010, when a fan handed him a pitcher of beer amid enthusiastic crowds singing O Canada. Reflecting on that iconic moment in 2020, he remarked, "If the beer is all I’m ever remembered for, I consider myself the luckiest fella on Earth."

Career

Montgomery’s introduction to skeleton racing occurred while residing in Calgary, where he worked as an auctioneer near Canada Olympic Park. After attending a skeleton event with his parents in 2002, he quickly embraced the sport and began competing. His initial seasons on the World Cup circuit showed moderate results; however, he achieved his first World Cup victory in Cesana, Italy, in 2008. That same year, he earned two silver medals at the 2008 FIBT World Championships held in Altenberg, Germany, and concluded the season ranked second overall in the 2007–08 Skeleton World Cup standings.

Montgomery’s qualification for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver was secured through strong performances during the 2009-10 Skeleton World Cup. After trailing Martins Dukurs following the initial run, he recorded the fastest times in both subsequent runs, including setting a track record of 52.20 seconds on his third descent. In the decisive final run on February 19, 2010, Montgomery overcame a 0.18-second deficit as Dukurs lost 0.25 seconds, ultimately winning gold by a margin of 0.07 seconds. Following his victory, Montgomery apologized to Dukurs for his exuberant celebration. He accepted his gold medal ceremony at Whistler on February 20, becoming the second Canadian consecutively to claim men’s skeleton gold after Duff Gibson’s triumph in 2006.

After securing his Olympic title, Montgomery celebrated by singing the national anthem and enjoying a pitcher of beer with Canadian supporters—a moment he later described as a significant expression of national pride and unity. During an interview with CTV, he revealed a tattoo featuring a maple leaf over his heart accompanied by the word "Canada" above it. He expressed aspirations that his achievement would encourage greater involvement in amateur sports and enhance safety awareness within youth skeleton racing. Additionally, he advocated for creating an all-amateur sports television channel dedicated to supporting Canadian athletes.

Montgomery’s helmet featured an image of a painted turtle on its crown, inspired by an encounter with this endangered species in British Columbia; this design was highlighted by BC Hydro as part of their sponsorship supporting turtle conservation efforts.

After missing qualification for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Montgomery indicated he was "99 per cent sure" that his career in skeleton racing had come to an end.

In 2019, he was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

Television

In 2010, Montgomery collaborated with friends to produce Best Trip Ever, a television special aired on Discovery Channel Canada that showcased summer adventure sports. The program premiered on November 27, 2010. In 2011, he served as a judge on Top Chef: Texas. On June 5, 2013, Montgomery was named host of CTV’s The Amazing Race Canada, a position he has maintained through all ten seasons as of September 2024.

Personal life

Montgomery is married to Darla Montgomery, who is also a competitor in skeleton racing. Together, they have two children: a son named Jaxon Mark, born on August 23, 2016, and a daughter named Lennon, born in 2019. Beyond his athletic career, he is employed as a sales consultant and automobile auctioneer based in Calgary. He graduated from the Canadian Automotive Institute, which has since been renamed the Automotive Business School of Canada at Georgian College. Montgomery acknowledges fellow Russell native Theoren Fleury as a significant source of motivation.

See also

• List of Canadian sports personalities