Donovan Bailey

Donovan Bailey is a retired professional sprinter who represented Canada in multiple international events. Originally from Jamaica, Bailey immigrated to Canada at 13 years old, playing basketball throughout high school. He began competing as a sprinter in 1991, and began competing in 1994 with the help of coach Dan Pfaff. Bailey’s first title came in 1994 at the Commonwealth games, winning the gold medal for Canada in the 4x100 Relay event. While training for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, Bailey won two gold medals at the 1995 World Championships in the 100 m and the 4x100 relay. At the 1996 Olympics, Bailey won the gold medal in the 100 m and the 4x100 relay, making him one of the best runners in the world. In 1997, Bailey would earn the moniker of “World’s Fastest Man” by defeating American sprinter Michael Johnson in a race, and would then move on to win a gold and a silver medal at the 1997 World Championships. Considered to be one of the best sprinters in North American history, Bailey still holds many records and was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.