John Sands competed in the Olympic Games in 1956 and 1960. Prior to the 1956 Games, he captured a bronze in the pre-Olympic meet, and set a new Canadian record in the 500-metre that stood for twelve years.
Sands went on to take a second in the 220-metre at the 1961 North American championships and first at the 1962 Adirondac Speedskating Competition in New York.
During his career, Sands won the Canadian Senior Men’s Outdoor title four times.
