Devon Harris

Devon Harris, three-time Winter Olympian, is a motivational speaker and member of the original Cool Runnings - Jamaican Bobsled Team. Inspiring and motivational keynote speaker, Devon, has encouraged countless people to get over life's failures and take on his philosophy of 'keep on pushing', invigorating positive development and exciting the next generation to achieve their goals.

Devon Harris was raised in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica. Yet, he graduated from the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England and served as an officer in the Jamaica Defence Force.

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 group 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, to their surprise, when they returned to Jamaica, they were supported by fans 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' in 1993.        

Devon and his teammates 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.

Defying the odds, Devon did "escape" his destiny of being a prisoner of poverty. In fact, in 2006, he started the 'Keep on Pushing Foundation' to provide supplies, computers and a breakfast program to his primary school in Kingston so more children could be ready when that rare opportunity knocked. 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 a children's author of 'Yes, I Can!' and 'Keep On Pushing: Hot Lessons From Cool Runnings'

In 2018, Devon flew to the PyeongChang Winter Games to be awarded his 'Olympians for Life' certificate by the World Olympians Association.

Devon is an accomplished motivational keynote speaker with the ability to keep audiences entertained.