• Golden Bears sprinter (2003-2007)
• Three-time Winter Olympian (2010, 2014, 2018)
• 2006 Canada West Male Track Athlete of the Year
• Five-time CIS Medalist (3 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• Seven-time Canada West Medalist (6 Gold, 1 Silver)
• 2007 World University Games 100m Bronze Medalist
• Golden Bears 60m Program Record Holder (6.68s)

Few athletes possess the world-class explosive power, adaptability, and the relentless work ethic required to excel at the highest levels across multiple sports. Neville Wright, '07 BPE, is one of those rare competitors whose elite drive elevated him from a dominant collegiate sprinter to a three-time Winter Olympian in bobsleigh.

Joining the Golden Bears Track & Field program in 2003, Wright immediately established himself as an unstoppable force on the track. Over his varsity career, he captured seven Canada West medals (six gold) and five CIS national medals. He helped lead the Golden Bears to a CIS team bronze in 2006 while being named the 2006 Canada West Male Track Athlete of the Year. 

"Neville is one of the most exceptional athletes and finest human beings I have been fortunate enough to work with," said Wright's former coach Quin Sekulich. "Like most athletes who are successful at elite level in high performance sport Neville has amazing physical attributes and incredible dedication and work ethic." 

During a remarkable 2005 season, Wright went undefeated over 60m and set program records in both the 60m dash and 4x200m relay. He continuously rewrote the school history books, resetting the Golden Bears 60m mark seven times, culminating in a blistering time of 6.68 seconds that still stands as the school record.

Along with his UofA accolades, Wright represented Canada at both the 2005 and 2007 World University Games, claiming bronze in the 100m dash in 2007 in Thailand. After university he anchored Canada’s 4x100m relay at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Japan. After narrowly missing the 2008 Summer Olympics due to a hamstring injury, Wright engineered a seamless conversion to bobsleigh. 

As a brakeman, Wright quickly became recognized as one of the fastest pushers in the world. Across a decade-long bobsleigh career, he competed in 85 IBSF World Cup races, earning 13 medals (two gold) and an overall IBSF Crystal Globe third-place finish. He represented Canada at three consecutive Winter Olympic Games — Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, and PyeongChang 2018 — achieving a career-best fifth-place finish. 

His devotion to understanding human movement defined Wright’s transition post-retirement. Having completed his degree in Physical Education and a diploma in Remedial Massage Therapy with distinction, Wright established himself as a premier speed coach and recovery specialist. His expertise led him to serve as a Sprint Consultant and Performance Therapist for Canada Soccer's Men's National Team at the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups and 2024 Copa América.

“Although his physical abilities and sport accolades are extremely impressive, what sets Neville apart from many other athletes is his total approach to performance," continued Sekulich. "I believe his desire to interpret and understand the human body is what forged his consistent ability to perform on demand. He is a highly self-motivated student of sport who was determined to learn as much as possible from all the coaches and therapists he interacted with throughout his athletic career."

A dedicated student of sport and an exceptional ambassador for the university, Neville Wright embodies the highest standard of athletic excellence. The University of Alberta is proud to welcome Neville Wright to the Sports Wall of Fame.