Milton Hart was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. Since he was a child, Milton was driven by the desire to run fast and to be the quickest in a race. He would spend his time racing in the short sprints at school and eagerly joined his high school track and field team. Even though Milton may have wanted to be the fastest, he was often the slowest and was no stranger to defeat. During high school, he never won a race and was kicked off the school track team.

While this might have discouraged many, it didn’t sway Milton’s resolve. He would watch his former teammates train at school, and then go home to spend hours practicing in the evening and again first thing in the morning. After graduating high school, Milton joined the Jamaican military and continued training in track. In an unexpected twist, he rose to become the military’s 100m champion, a testament to his unyielding dedication.

When he was twenty-five, Milton was drafted into the esteemed Jamaican Bobsled Team. His good friend Devon Harris was also a member of the military and had just returned from the 1988 Winter Olympics as part of the famous “Cool Runnings” team. By 1989, Milton had become one of the fastest short sprinters in Jamaica, and because sprinting is such an important skill in bobsledding, he was encouraged by his friend to attend the Olympic tryouts – after all, they were being held on the military base.

Milton was successful and officially became a member of the Jamaican bobsled team. Less than two weeks later, he was began training with his teammates for the 1992 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. The sport was a natural fit and Milton found himself intrigued by the process of having to sprint for 25 metres then bail into the bobsled.

Bobsledding felt like a natural fit for Milton, blending his speed with the technical demands of the sport. After competing in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, Milton faced a tough decision: continue his Olympic journey or pursue further education. Having trained extensively in Canada and fallen in love with the country, Milton chose to focus on his studies. Later that year, he moved to Canada and enrolled at York University.

At university, Milton’s track career truly took off. Despite being an Olympian, he believed that hard work was the key to his success, often feeling that he had to push harder than anyone else to reach the speeds he knew he was capable of. His grit paid off. Milton became an Ontario University Athletics All-Star in 1995, 1996, and 1998, earned eight gold and two silver OUA medals, and added one silver and two bronze CIAU (Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union) medals to his collection. In 1996, he was named York University’s Most Valuable Athlete.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications, followed by a master’s degree in environmental studies, Milton continued with his military service, receiving a Queen’s Commission in the Canadian Military Reserves as a Lieutenant. From 2002 to 2010, he held various roles, including Logistics Officer, Public Affairs Officer, and Platoon Commander. During this time, Milton also earned a Bachelor of Education degree and, in 2004, moved to Aurora. Since 2022, he has served as a vice-principal with the York Regional District School Board.

Milton’s love for speed never waned. Although unfamiliar with master’s-level competition, once he learned about it, he quickly joined Ontario Masters Athletics. In 2023, his efforts culminated in becoming the Canadian National 100m Masters Champion in Langley, British Columbia—making him a national champion once again!

Beyond his athletic achievements, Milton is deeply committed to his community. As the chair of the Aurora Black Caucus, he works to dismantle anti-Black racism and promote inclusion, diversity, and equity. His leadership and commitment to shaping the next generation as an educator make him an invaluable member of the Aurora community.

Milton Hart’s journey is a powerful reminder that with hard work, determination, and resilience, anything is possible. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to track and field, we are honored to welcome Milton Hart as part of the 2024 class of inductees into the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame.