BILLY MONGER is ready to anchor Channel 4’s coverage of the Winter Paralympics – but hopes to qualify to COMPETE at LA 2028.
And he reckons completing a paratriathlon is even “more challenging” than his world-record Ironman.
Double amputee Billy Monger is targeting the LA 2028 ParalympicsCredit: Simon Jones
He broke the Ironman world record in 2024 and is training for the paratriathlonCredit: Getty
Monger will front Channel 4’s Winter Paralympics coverage from Milan CortinaCredit: Channel 4
at the 2024 World Ironman Championships in Hawaii.
The former racing driver completed the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile marathon run in a gruelling 14 hours and 23 minutes.
Now he is combining his training for the shorter Paralympic distance with his broadcast role at the Milan Cortina Games – which start on Friday – where he will be the face of the TV breakfast show.
– told SunSport: “Channel 4 have put a lot of faith in me. I did Beijing 2022 as a roving reporter, then Paris 2024 co-presenting, now I’m presenting the breakfast show by myself.
“It’s a nice step up, exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time.
“But the plan is to compete at the .
“The paratriahtlon is the same sport as the Ironman but it’s the complete opposite end of the spectrum so it’s very different.
“In the , it’s a sprint distance triathlon – 750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run – so the race is just over an hour rather than the Ironman, which was 14-and-a-half hours.
“But equally, I think it’s probably more challenging.
“Obviously, if you can’t physically swim the distance, bike the distance, run the distance, then you aren’t going to finish an Ironman – but if you’ve worked hard and you have good mental strength, I think it’s achievable.
“With the Paralympics, you can work on your fitness, you can have the mental strength, but you can’t cheat speed.
“If you’re not as strong and as fast as the other guys, you can’t rely on willpower to come out on top.
“My best 5k run so far is just over 19 minutes so I’m there or thereabouts. I’m definitely getting faster.”
continued: “Who knows whether I’ll be there in LA competing, presenting, both? I don’t know yet. But the goal at the minute is to definitely be there in the paratriathlon myself.
“I feel like I have the capabilities to make it to LA. I wouldn’t be investing the time and effort if I thought there was no chance of making it.
“Obviously, I was in Paris, I did my Ironman challenge, and now I’ve made the target of going for LA.
“Maybe I’ll go to , catch the bug and end up in a Winter Paralympics!
“I think that’s probably less likely to happen than me going to LA, but who knows?”
One of Channel 4’s studios for the upcoming Winter Paralympics in Italy is halfway up a mountain and – incredibly – is OUTSIDE.
Thankfully, Monger has packed plenty of gloves but knows he will be warmed by the chance to showcase high-quality sport balanced amid the backdrop of telling athletes’ stories of adversity.
He added: “It’s about creating a connection for fans watching at home.
“Menna Fitzpatrick and Neil Simpson have been our ParalympicsGB stars of the last few Winter Games and have come back with medals.
“One that some people maybe haven’t heard of, but one I resonate with and have grown fond of, is Scott Meenagh in the biathlon.
“He’s ex-military. He’s a double amputee just like myself. And the ski that he uses to get around in the biathlon had help from Formula One team Williams.
Menna Fitzpatrick, right, will hope to add another Winter Paralympic medalCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Monger takes inspiration from biathlon star Scott MeenaghCredit: Getty
He reckons he has a genuine chance of qualifying for LA 2028Credit: Getty
One of the Channel 4 studios is halfway up a mountain and outside in ItalyCredit: Channel 4
“So it’s connecting a couple of my passions: Paralympic sport plus motorsport-backed engineering.
“When I was coming through my accident, looking for people that were active double amputees, Scott was someone who definitely caught my eye.”
Monger’s perspective, especially on the crash, is as fresh as the winter Dolomite air.
Of course, as a teenager, he would never have chosen to have his life changed in the way it did.
But it has also opened doors to new opportunities, people and places he otherwise would not have experienced – plus the keen fan has raised an incredible £5million for charity.
Monger said: “Fundamentally, it’s so hard to sit here and give an answer on whether I would have wished the crash not to happen.
“But also it’s a pointless endeavour because it has happened and all I can control now is my reaction and how I go about living the most enjoyable life that I want to live day in, day out.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure when I was younger, I thought I was going to be a driver, not a presenter and not potentially a Paralympian.
“The crash is a big, huge moment in my life and has obviously left me dealing with the challenges of being a double amputee. But we have to embrace the challenges that life throws at you.
“It was a wrong place, wrong time scenario. Nothing could have been done to avoid it.
“So rather than just feel sorry for myself, my plan is to keep living and think, ‘Actually I’m still alive.’
“I’ve still got a lot of stuff that I want to achieve and do.
“But career and sporting achievements don’t really satisfy me entirely.
“I want to be a well-rounded person. I want to have enough time spent with my family and friends and to be someone that people want to be around.”
- Billy Monger joins KitKat to unveil a life-sized, hand-crafted chocolate car at Silverstone. The reveal kicks off KitKat’s Formula 1® partnership in the UK and Ireland for 2026, bringing fans the “ultimate break” throughout the season, as limited-edition KitKat F1® chocolate cars are available now.
Monger has forged a strong broadcast careerCredit: Getty
His 5k time is now at around 19 minutesCredit: Getty
The Ironman challenge took his Comic Relief fundraising to £5mCredit: Daniel Loveday/Comic Relief
Monger keeps a positive perspective following the life-changing crashCredit: Getty
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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