Born in Jamaica, Donovan moved to Canada in his teen years, quickly establishing himself as an up-and-coming sprinter and relay runner. In 1994, he ran fast enough to be ranked number twenty-two in the world at 100m – and it was then he began dominating races at major events in the sprints and as part of the relay teams.

At the 1995 Canadian Championships, he ran a world-leading time of 9.91 over 100m, which he followed up with gold at the 5th World Championships in Gothenburg (Sweden). It was the year 1996 that proved to be Donovan‘s best year, setting a world 50m indoor record; winning the Olympic title of the world’s fastest man with a 100m time of 9.84 at the 1996 Games in Atlanta (Georgia, United States); taking another as a member of the 4x100m relay team. Donovan was unquestionably the dominant sprinter of the world up until 2001, competing and winning on the world stage in every major competition, including a 150m race against American sprinter and 200m world record holder Michael Johnson.

In 1996, Donovan was selected as Ontario’s Male Athlete of the Year in 1996. Donovan has also been inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (2005); Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (in 2004 as an individual, and in 2008 as part of the 1996 Summer Olympics 4x100m relay team; and Canada’s Walk of Fame (2017) – and was the recipient of the Lionel Conacher Trophy (1996) and the Lou Marsh Trophy, given annually to Canada’s best sportsperson (1996).