The turtle, as it turns out, is a powerful symbol in many cultures, associated with wisdom, patience, strength and longevity – so a good spirit animal for an Olympic competitor and inspirational person like Jon to connect with. He had the painted turtle blazoned on the top of his skeleton helmet by an indigenous artist.
Retirement, staying busy and raising awareness
Since he retired from competition, Jon had returned to “looking better in a T-shirt type training” where he’s working out with weights and doing cardio. “I know movement is medicine and that I’ve got to move my body. I’ve got to continue to put pressure on my joints, lift weights and I’ve got a desire to get back into sprinting to remain dynamic and being able to use my body,” he says, adding he needs to keep up with his kids.
He’s also pushed himself for episodes of the Amazing Race and highlights “terrifying” favourites like jumping off the bungee tower in Macau and standing on top of the gondola in Jasper National Park to deliver a line to a helicopter. “I couldn’t see the edge of the gondola. I was just sort of floating in space and all I could see was a river about 3km off in the distance which was like being on a different planet.”
Will he be athletic in his 80s? Likely. He witnessed a former professional golfer, South African Gary Player, do a back flip off his boat on his 83rd birthday. “For me, that was a life goal. I was like right there, Gary Player, you’re setting the tone. If I can do that, I think that’s going to be great.”