JONNY HUNTINGTON | Para-Athlete and Boundary Breaking Explorer
Jonny is an elite endurance athlete, explorer, stroke survivor and motivational figure who, in January 2025, became the first person with a disability to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole.
While serving as an officer in the British Army in 2014, Jonny had a stroke that caused complete paralysis from the neck down on his left side. Following extensive rehabilitation and discharge from the Armed Forces, Jonny entered the world of elite sport as a disabled athlete, competing for Great Britain as a para cross-country skier.
In the winter of 24/25, determined to push his physical and mental limits, and having undertaken numerous endurance challenges in the past, Jonny embarked on his toughest expedition yet. Over 46 days, Jonny covered 911 km of Antarctic tundra, joining a select group of people who have successfully skied to the South Pole without support.
Jonny skied for around 11 hours a day, dragging all his equipment and food in a sled weighing more than 100kg. Throughout the expedition, he battled Antarctic temperatures as low as -40°C, high winds, crevasses and relentless 24-hour daylight.
To further demonstrate the power of human potential and self-belief, Jonny’s next significnat challenge, in 2027, will see him run 50 marathons in 50 US states in 50 days. Joined by other injured veterans, Jonny hopes this groundbreaking achievement will:
– stimulate significant social impact to support better mental health
– continue to break down barriers and create conversation around neurodiversity
– encourage other people to aim big and not be limited by convention
His powerful story of boundary-pushing and resilience has already captured significant global media attention. Highlights of the media campaign include:
– Estimated audience reach of 1.4 billion people
– Over 450 pieces of media coverage
– 24% of coverage generated internationally including online broadcast and print in the United States, Europe, Australia/New Zealand and beyond.
A veteran, turned explorer who champions his disability, Jonny is an authentic advocate for courageously exploring outside of the comfort zone
As a sports scientist with expertise in sport psychology, physiology, cognition and nutrition, Jonny strives to help others optimise their performance, have greater confidence in working towards ambitious goals, and build a more sophisticated understanding of what is really meant by resilience.