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Billy completes the IRONMAN World Championship race in Kona, Hawaii in 14:23:56, breaking the course best for a double leg amputee on prosthetic legs by an incredible 2 hours, 3 minutes and 3 seconds all to raise vital funds for Comic Relief funded projects
Billy also becomes the youngest ever double leg amputee to complete the course
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 in Kona, Hawaii
After training for more than 12 months for this mammoth challenge, Billy finished with a race time of 14:23:56 Billy's journey will also be filmed as part of a documentary, airing on BBC One and iPlayer
Money raised will help vital Comic Relief funded projects provide practical support to those facing their own tough challenges here in the UK and across the world: from giving children and young people the best start in life, to providing a safe place when someone needs it most, to helping families meet their basic needs
There's still time to donate and support Billy at www.comicrelief.com/billyironchallenge
Sunday 27 October: An exhausted but ecstatic Billy Monger has completed his mammoth challenge this weekend in Kona, Hawaii, finishing the IRONMAN World Championship and breaking the course best for a double leg amputee by 2 hours, 3 minutes and 3 seconds, finishing in an incredible 14:23:56, all to raise funds for Comic Relief funded projects.
Competing in the IRONMAN World Championships is an immense task for any athlete, and with Billy also becoming the youngest ever athlete to complete the course on prosthetic legs, it is truly an incredible achievement. Billy has undertaken 12 months of intense training for the challenge, committing to session after session and mile after mile in the water, on his bike and on his running blades to prepare for the race.
Billy headed to the start line full of emotion and determination, ready to face the 140.6 miles ahead, but also nervous how his body and mind would handle the pressure of a World Championship event in the heat and humidity in Kona.
He set off quickly in the 2.4 mile swim, with the field of professional and amateur triathletes all fighting for space in the waters of the pacific ocean. Despite being stung twice by jellyfish, Billy powered through to finish the swim in 1 hour, 7 minutes and 29 seconds.
Billy took just under 12 minutes in the first transition area where he attached his cycling prosthetics and hit the road for the epic 112 mile cycle. Equivalent to cycling from London to Birmingham, this was Billy’s longest ever cycle. The weather did not favour the cyclists during this discipline, and Billy was forced to battle strong crosswinds as he took on the undulating course, but he dug deep and finished in 7 hours, 26 minutes and 50 seconds.
Finally, switching into his running blades for the final discipline, Billy headed out for a full 26.2 mile marathon through the rolling lava fields of Hawaii. By this point, Billy was really struggling with fatigue, and 10km in, he experienced something he was not expecting – torrential rain! Heading up the steepest hill on running blades in heavy rain is incredibly challenging, but Billy pushed on, walking most of the way. As he neared the crest of the hill, roars of support from his team and spectators lining the route spurred him on to take the final few metres of the hill at a run.
Digging deep down into his reserves, Billy regained his stride and continued onwards. As he approached the course halfway marker, the sun set and it was time for the athletes to turn on their head torches, adding a new element to the already treacherous conditions. This is the world’s most iconic single day endurance event for a reason – it's tough, and many athletes who are well-trained and fully prepared don’t complete the course, especially on their first attempt. Thanks to Billy’s determination, preparation and the wealth of support he has received, he wasn’t one of them, completing the run in 5 hours, 26 minutes and 26 seconds, giving him a final IRONMAN course best for a double leg amputee on prosthetic legs of 14:23:56, beating the previously held time of 16:26:59.
It is difficult to comprehend how incredible this achievement is for Billy, but a bilateral amputee of Billy’s level uses approximately 120% more energy than an able-bodied person just to walk, so in energy consumption, he completed the equivalent of almost two IRONMAN courses back-to-back.
When it got really tough out there on the course, Billy drew on his determination to help raise life changing funds for Comic Relief. From supporting children and young people, to providing safe spaces for those in danger, and helping to give families the support they need to meet their basic needs, Comic Relief funded projects support people in the UK and across the world.
Billy’s commitment to this huge task and to raising vital funds demanded him to make adjustments to his diet, sleep, and daily routines. Throughout this intense preparation, Billy’s family, including his mum, dad and sister have been with him every step of the way, offering unwavering support. His sister Bonny has been constantly by his side, motivating and encouraging him during every swim, cycle, and run. Together, the whole Monger family have been helping Billy navigate the highs and lows of his training, ensuring he was ready for the ultimate test in Kona.
Billy Monger 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’s Mum, Amanda Knight said: “I couldn’t be more proud of Billy and what he’s achieved for himself and for others. 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."
The money Billy raises during his challenge of a lifetime will help vital Comic Relief funded projects provide practical support to those facing their own tough challenges, here in the UK and across the world. From giving children and young people the best start in life, to providing a safe place when someone needs it most, to helping families meet their basic needs.
There's still time to donate and support Billy by visiting www.comicrelief.com/billyironchallenge
ENDS
ASSETS AVAILABLE HERE
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Comic Relief PR Team
0207 820 2500
Out of hours enquiries: 07984 510 473
For more information about the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Kaulia-Kona, Hawaii, please visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship-kona(opens in new window). For more information on the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and global event series, visit www.ironman.com(opens in new window). Media inquiries may be directed to press@ironman.com.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Comic Relief
Comic Relief is a UK charity that uses the power of entertainment and popular culture to work towards a vision of a just world free from poverty. We raise money to support organisations that are closest to the communities who can make change happen. We support work that will tackle the impact of poverty, injustice, conflict, and climate change in the UK and around the world.
Since launching in 1985, we have raised over £1.6 billion thanks to the huge generosity and kindness of the public and our partners.
For more information on our work, visit www.comicrelief.com or follow @comicrelief on X(opens in new window) (formerly Twitter), Facebook(opens in new window), Instagram(opens in new window), LinkedIn(opens in new window) and TikTok(opens in new window) for the latest content and news.
Comic Relief is the operating name of Charity Projects, registered charity in England & Wales (326568) and Scotland (SC039730).
About Billy Monger
Few people embody triumph over adversity as much as Billy Monger.
A promising young racing driver, Billy Monger was critically injured in a high speed collision while racing in Formula 4 which left him with both legs amputated. Despite the severity of the injuries, Billy Whizz, as he is nicknamed, refused to give up on his racing career, lobbying motorsport’s governing body to allow both disabled and non-disabled drivers to race along- side each other.
On his return to racing he went on to score podiums in British F3 and win the famous Pau Grand Prix in European F3 and is currently still setting his sights on achieving his dream of racing in Formula 1.
Billy’s incredible return to motorsport after his tragic accident that left him with both legs amputated was a huge moment across the world of sport. But his dedication, irrepressible self-belief and determination, in the face of unimaginable adversity, to get back behind the wheel of a racing car has shown him to be an inspiration to all athletes, disabled and non-disabled alike.
He won the BBC Sports Personality Helen Rollason Award and had a BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary made about his incredible return to racing. In 2021 he completed a challenge for Comic Relief raising over £3million for charity. He is currently a presenter and pundit for Channel 4's coverage of the Formula One and Paralympics and Formula E on TNT.
About the IRONMAN World Championship
Since its inception in 1978 on the Island of O`ahu, the IRONMAN World Championship® triathlon has etched its name in history through stellar performances, inspirational participants and emotional memories. In 1981, the race moved from the tranquil shores of Waikīkī to the barren lava fields of Kona on the Island of Hawai`i. The most iconic one-day sporting event in the world is the culmination of 40 global IRONMAN events with over 94,000 athletes around the world striving for one of the coveted qualifying slots. The 2021 edition of the event took place in St. George, Utah in May 2022, becoming the first location to host the event outside of Hawai`i since its origins in 1978. After a two-year hiatus from Hawai`i due to COVID, the race returned to Kailua-Kona in 2022 and for the first time took place as a two-day event. The 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship race continued with the two-day format but with two different host locations and dates (Nice, France in September and Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i in October), to allow for a dedicated world championship race for women and dedicated world championship race for men. The cumulative event hosted over 4,000 athletes embarking on a 140.6-mile journey that presents the ultimate test of body, mind, and spirit to earn the title of IRONMAN World Champion. In 2024, the women will rotate to Nice, France while the men return to Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i for their respective world championship host locations. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship(opens in new window).
About The IRONMAN Group
The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, IRONKIDS®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf®, UTMB® World Series trail-running events including the Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB®, Tarawera Ultra-Trail™ by UTMB® and Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB®, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world, providing participants the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business, and Orkila Capital, a growth equity firm focused on building great brands. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group(opens in new window).
