Double amputee Billy Monger breaks Ironman World Championship record after jellyfish sting
Date: 2024-10-27
Billy Monger was ‘stung by jellyfish’ as he smashed the Ironman World Championship course best for a double leg amputee on prosthetic legs.
The 26-year-old Briton finished the race in Kona, Hawaii in 14:23:56 to become the youngest-ever double leg amputee to complete the course.
Monger has broken the previous record by a whopping two hours, three minutes and three seconds, raising funds for British charity Comic Relief in the process.
The racing driver, who was handed the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award in 2018, had his legs amputated after a collision in 2017.
Monger, who trained for over 12 months for the event, was left delighted after his mammoth achievement in Hawaii and said: ‘What a day! That was the longest day of my life – I just felt so much love out on the course; that was a really special day.
‘All that hard work finally paid off and it couldn’t have gone better, everything came together in a really good way. There were a few moments – getting stung by jellyfish and getting a cut on my run socket but all things considered, issues we could have had, I am absolutely chuffed.
‘It was a race I couldn’t have dreamed of. My support team as always are absolutely amazing and so big thanks to them and of course the public’s support, I hope you guys have loved the journey as much as I have and we are an IRONMAN! A course record by two hours? That’ll do!!’
Billy Monger's remarkable achievement in Hawaii
The Ironman World Championship 140.6-mile triathlon course consisted of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycle and a 26.2 mile marathon.
A promising young racing driver, Monger was critically injured in a high-speed collision while racing in Formula 4, which left him with both legs amputated.
‘Billy Whizz‘ refused to give up on his racing career, though, lobbying motorsport’s governing body to allow both disabled and non-disabled drivers to race alongside each other.
Now a presenter and pundit for Channel 4’s coverage of the Formula One and Paralympics and Formula E on TNT, Monger is currently raising funds for charity.
‘I couldn’t be more proud of Billy and what he’s achieved for himself and for others,’ Monger’s mum Amanda Knight added.
‘Right now I feel an overwhelming sense of relief that he’s crossed the finish line. When he committed to this challenge, I knew he would apply himself, driven by those he can help with Comic Relief.’
In 2021, Billy took on another monumental challenge for Comic Relief, raising £3.2 million by walking, kayaking, and cycling 140 miles across England.
