Devon Harris

Member of the first Jamaican Bobsled Team

Travels From: UT

Fee Range: $5,000 - $7,500

Topics: Sports/Athletics, Inspirational, Olympic Heroes, Motivation, Leadership

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From the slums of Kingston, Jamaica to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, England; from a barefoot boy's dreams of winning a track race to a young man's membership on his country's first Olympic bobsled team, this is the compelling story of Devon Harris.

Audiences will be moved by Devon's inspiring tale of personal triumph over adversity. While at the same time they will find the story behind Jamaica's first bobsled team both humorous and uplifting.

Devon is no stranger to adversity. He was born in poverty and raised in a violent ghetto environment. While most of his peers dropped out of school at an early age, despite ridicule and hardship, Devon remained in school, excelled in track & field events, and graduated with honors. With much persistence, Devon received an appointment to the Officer Corp of the Jamaica Defence Force and was selected to attend the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, in England.

At the suggestion of his commanding officer, Devon tried out for and was selected to join Jamaica's first Olympic Bobsled Team. Since then he has participated in three Winter Olympic Games, including the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada about which Walt Disney based the popular movie, Cool Runnings.

When not in training for the 2002 Winter Olympics, Devon tours the country as a motivational speaker - often visiting schools and youth groups offering a message of inspiration and hope. His personal philosophy, like that of the Jamaican Bobsled Team, is that he will not permit others to define the limits of his success.

*Walt Disney based the popular movie Cool Runnings on the story of the 1988 Bobsled Team

Biographical Notes
- Born Christmas Day, 1964
- Raised in Kingston, Jamaica
- Enlisted in the Jamaica Defence Force, Officer Corps.
- Graduated from the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, England
- Member of Jamaica's first Olympic Bobsled Team - competed in:
1988 Winter Olympics - Calgary, Canada*
1992 Winter Olympics - Albertville, France
1998 Winter Olympics - Nagano, Japan
- Currently resides in New York City, NY

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