BROADCASTS.com

For those of us who thought ski jumping was the wildest sport at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, there was a surprise that had all us viewers on the edge of our seats.\xa0

\xa0

Skeleton was on the official lineup, for the first time since 1948.\xa0

\xa0

If you\u2019ve never seen it before, skeleton involves plunging head-first down a steep, twisty ice track, atop a sled that\u2019s barely more substantial than a cafeteria tray.

\xa0

2002 was also the year Jon Montgomery discovered the sport of skeleton. In his early 20s at the time, the Manitoba-born Montgomery was visiting Calgary with his parents, saw a skeleton competition at Canada Olympic Park, and fell so deeply in love that he began competing himself, almost immediately. And eight years later, representing Canada on our Olympic skeleton team, he won gold, bringing awareness of this formerly little-known sport to an entire nation.\xa0

\xa0

While Montgomery may have discovered his Olympic sport relatively late in life, sport is in his soul\u2014and nearly two decades later, both he and his wife Darla Deschamps-Montgomery, a fellow skeleton racer, volunteer generously for sports-focussed charities including KidsSport and Right to Play, an international organization that works to provide opportunities for all kids to participate in sport and creative play.\xa0\xa0

\xa0

Montgomery believes in pushing himself outside his comfort zone, an attribute that\u2019s helped him succeed in widely diverse endeavours. This is his eighth year as host of The Amazing Race Canada, a role that won him a Canadian Screen Award in 2016. He\u2019s also co-hosted The Junos with the iconic Canadian performer Jann Arden. He\u2019s a father of two, an automotive auctioneer\u2014and that\u2019s not even the complete list.

\xa0

Montgomery took time out of his busy schedule to speak with the Real Money Talk Podcast about his thoughts on what it takes to make it as an Olympian, how to overcome the financial hurdles, and staying motivated in life.

\xa0

This Ratehub.ca podcast is brought to you by EQ Bank and the EQ Bank savings plus account

\xa0

[0:00 - 3:12] Intro

\xa0

[3:13 - 7:19] Money Mistakes - Apple computer repair, skating lessons, getting scammed and gouged

\xa0

[7:20 - 9:06] The Jon Montgomery Story - Were you always interested in pursuing Olympics? His start as an auctioneer and in car sales and wanting to represent Canada on the world stage. You need passion.\xa0

\xa0

[9:07 - 11:10] I thought it was a luge accident. I wanted to represent Canada. I saw Theo Fleury win a gold. Berating the French judge for collusion. TSN Turning Point.\xa0

\xa0

[11:11 - 12:43] Are you a speed demon at heart? I wanted to try something hair brained and bananas. I went Sky Diving. I was seeking out challenges. I approached fear, pushed past it, and came to terms with it.\xa0

\xa0

[12:44 - 14:39] If you fear something, you should move towards it. Yes, absolutely - wife, college, university, olympics - all were cause for pause. Overcoming inertia is incredibly difficult. To keep it moving is much easier. Gotta take the first steps. The experience in the world today, means we have to do it now, because it takes so much effort.\xa0

\xa0

[14:40 - 19:10] You need money to pursue dreams. How did you fund your training and make ends meet? How did you survive? What would you tell future Olympians about funding? I\u2019m lucky and privileged. My parents gave me a beat up car and saved for my education. I didn\u2019t have the burden of student loans. My parents championed going to school. I wasn\u2019t going to get a free ride. Take the risk of bestowing an education upon yourself. I had a trade that allowed me to find opportunities in sport. A bank will give you credit with an education.\xa0

\xa0

[19:11 - 22:11] Debt isn\u2019t bad, you need it to build credit. With kids of your own, will you pay for their education? You have to think about it now with RESPs. If you help people, you will get what you want. I never sold a car, I solved transportation problems. Hopefully there are scholarships. Our kids will be average and normal. Expecting otherwise is wishful thinking.\xa0

\xa0

[23:12 - 26:22] What if your kids wanted to pursue the Olympics? What advice would you give about funding for Canadian Athletes? I\u2019m opportunistic. Do it because you love it. Work towards it. Don\u2019t do it for the glory, but because you love it. There are multiple rewards. Know your with, trying it and you\u2019ll learn. Attitude shapes our lives. Perspective is everything. Attitude will determine success.\xa0

\xa0

[26:23 - 27:09] Tyler\u2019s friend is training his son to throw left handed to make the MLB. Let your kid have fun.\xa0

\xa0

[27:10 - 31:45] Your attitude is always on display. Talk to us about your charitable initiatives Kidsport and RightToPlay. Being a part of something bigger than yourself is important. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. I failed to qualify for the 2014 Olympics. Sport is a right. Playing is a right. We need to be celebrated individually. That can happen in sports. Your place in society is created in structured organized sport.\xa0

\xa0

[31:46 - 33:49] Sandra\u2019s kid is able to take drama much better because of sport. School drama goes away because of being on a team. Perspective is everything. Sport is an outlet to realize life is multi faceted. It\u2019s easier to not internalize the bad.\xa0

\xa0

[33:50 - 37:39] Do you think all your experiences have helped you in your life now? Retrospectively, when you look back at everything is where you gain insights, that\u2019s where the lessons are found. Martina and Phil from season 6 of Amazing Race Canada - out of their comfort zone - watching someone overcome adversity, you understand it much better. I revere people who push through the struggle.\xa0

\xa0

[37:40 - 47:49] RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS\xa0 - What\u2019s in your wallet? What\u2019s your favourite book? Favourite sport to watch, play and - do you still skeleton? What are you binge watching right now? Have you seen Free Solo? What\u2019s the biggest mistake a future Olympian can make? What does your billboard say?

\xa0

[47:50 -\xa0 50:32] Financial tip for the week - You need to build an emergency fund. Here\u2019s how.\xa0

\xa0

[50:33 - 51:44] Outro