Devon Harris
A motivational speaker and member of the original Cool Runnings - the Jamaican Bobsled Team - Devon Harris achieved his grand dream as a three-time Winter Olympian. He inspires audiences about facing adversity and getting over life’s failures, a topic which he can relate to after his Olympic crash.
Devon Harris was a member of the Jamaican Bobsleigh team and competed in three Winter Olympics; he later joined the army and attended the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst. Devon is an accomplished motivational keynote speaker with the ability to keep audiences entertained.
Growing up in the slums of Jamaica, Devon’s life turned around when he became one of the original members of the Jamaican Bobsleigh team. Devon had always hoped to compete in the summer Olympics as an 800m and 1500m runner; however, when an opportunity arose for him to join the Jamaican Bobsleigh team, he qualified with the fastest push time.
The team trained relentlessly in the run up to the Olympics and in 1988 the team of four went to Calgary to compete. The Jamaican bobsleigh team, quickly captured the attention of the winter Olympics viewers and exceeded expectations; the team crashed in their last run. However, they were supported by fans and to their surprise and returned to Jamaica as national heroes. Their Olympic story was so heart-warming that Disney producers decided to use it for the well-known film titled ‘Cool Runnings’.
Devon and his team mates qualified for the 1992 and 1996 games and he has since spent lots of his time speaking to young children about life’s obstacles and how to get around them. He is an experienced motivational speaker and speaks to audiences about getting over life’s failures, a topic which he can relate to after his Olympic crash.
When he is not working as a motivational speaker, Devon is in charge of the ‘Keep on Pushing Foundation’, helping children in impoverished areas to build confidence mentally and physically. Devon is also an ambassador for Right to Play a non-profit organisation using sport to help children to develop and create more of a community in impoverished areas, and he is also a children’s author.
Inspiring and motivational Devon has encouraged countless international businesses to take on his philosophy of ‘keep on pushing’ invigorating positive development. Exciting the next generation with his incredible story, Devon is an asset to the speaking circuit.
