There are the ridiculous requests, like the person who wanted a picture of him in a Speedo.
The glamourous, like a chance to present an award at next month’s Juno Awards.
And dozens on the charitable side, including an opportunity to travel to Africa with the kids charity, Right To Play.
Since winning an Olympic gold medal, Jon Montgomery’s life has been moving faster than his skeleton sled.
“It’s crazy,” Montgomery told the Sun from his home in Calgary. “Not in your wildest dreams do you expect that. It’s surreal. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life before. So to be able to describe it to folks, what it feels like, is near impossible.”
For Montgomery, life changed, literally, in the blink of an eye, the time separating him from just another podium finish.
Had the redhead from Russell, Man., won, say, a silver medal in Whistler, it’s doubtful complete strangers would be coming up to him with tears in their eyes, as they have since the Games.
“Nothing short of amazing,” is how the 30-year-old described it. “For me that’s incredibly moving, when somebody says you’ve helped them become more proud to be where they’re from, and helped somebody come to the realization that, yeah, we do live on the greatest place on earth.”
Something about Montgomery connected with Canadians, and it wasn’t just the way the part-time auctioneer chugged a pitcher of beer on national television.
A guy who raced his sled largely in anonymity until now is suddenly the toast of the country, wanted for appearances at schools, speaking engagements, charity auctions, you name it.
Today he’s on his way to Niagara Falls to launch an Imax movie.
Friday he’ll bring his gold medal to Manitoba, where they’re planning the party of all parties in his home town, Sunday.
You’ve never seen Russell like this: giant bows on the trees lining Main Street, huge video screens and a Whistler atmosphere, complete with 18 specially constructed fire barrels, outside the hall where Montgomery will be saluted — and an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 visitors.
“We’re even going to decorate Arthur, our mascot bull on the highway,” local businessman and organizer Perry Bulbuck said. “He’s going to wear the medallion.”
Bulbuck admits they actually have no idea how many people will show up, but they’re supplying hot dogs, chips and drinks for up to 7,000. Russell’s population is 1,611.
They’ll come from Brandon, Neepawa, Minnedosa and most every farm and village in between. Busloads of school kids from Winnipeg, too.
The whole thing starts with a parade, featuring nearly 100 floats from the region.
“That’s absurd,” Montgomery said upon hearing the number. “For me to picture what, potentially, 5,000 people in Russell would look like, well, it’s never happened. So I don’t know how I could get my brain wrapped around it.”
Montgomery’s parents are having trouble getting their heads around it all, too.
“It’s something you never dreamed would ever happen,” his mom, Joan, said. “We’re very proud.”
The Montgomery home has been inundated with calls the last two weeks. It seems everybody wants a piece of their son.
Thing is, mom and dad have barely had a chance to talk to him themselves.
They didn’t even know he might be presenting at the Junos.
“I wonder if he’d take his mother with him on the red carpet, do you think?” Joan said.
The parents hope to finally catch up with the kid this weekend.
Problem is, a few thousand others are planning the same thing.
“I just need to do one thing,” Bulbuck said of the party planning. “And that’s clone Jon by Sunday. Because everyone wants to meet him.”
That sounds like the best plan of all.
Contact Paul at paul.friesen@sunmedia.ca or 632-2788.
