Jon Montgomery
A skeleton racer who won Olympic gold and then chugged a pitcher of beer in a moment of pure, unscripted Canadian joy.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Canadian skeleton racer and television host·Birthday: May 6·Generation X
Biography
Jon Montgomery rocketed to fame not just for his athletic precision, but for the authenticity he brought to the podium. Hailing from Russell, Manitoba, he found his calling hurtling face-first down an icy track at 140 km/h. His gold medal run at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics was a masterclass in pressure, but what followed defined him in the national consciousness. Walking through the Whistler crowd in celebration, he was handed a pitcher of beer by a fan and drank from it heartily, a moment that captured a nation's celebratory spirit. That genuine character translated seamlessly to a second career as the charismatic host of The Amazing Race Canada, where he became a familiar and friendly guide across the nation's landscapes. Montgomery's legacy is a blend of elite athletic achievement and a relatable, down-to-earth persona that made him a beloved figure far beyond the world of winter sports.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jon was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Jon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the gold medal in men's skeleton at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
- Has served as the host of The Amazing Race Canada since its inception in 2013.
- Captured a silver medal at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg.
Did You Know?
He worked as an auctioneer before his skeleton career took off.
The famous post-race beer was a pitcher of Alexander Keith's IPA.
He carried the Canadian flag into the closing ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Games.
“If the beer is all I’m ever remembered for, I consider myself the luckiest fella on Earth.”
