Jonny Huntington

Jonny Huntington is an elite para-athlete, skier and mountaineer, and a former British Army Officer and ultra-distance runner.

Jonny had a stroke and a brain bleed in 2014 that left him paralysed from the neck down on his left side. Following the stroke, Jonny had depression and considered suicide.

Following discharge from the Army and rehabilitation where he learned to walk again, Jonny returned to the world of elite sport as a disabled athlete, competing for GB in Cross Country Skiing.

Jonny is also a sport scientist with interests in psychology, physiology and nutrition and a performance coach to both athletes and non-athletes alike, as well as being sought after as a speaker and mentor for his expertise in leadership and teamwork.

As a speaker Jonny inspires others to think beyond the conventional, and not let their circumstances limit their ambition. He is a powerful advocate for getting out of a comfort zone and encourages his audiences to have ambitious goals, helping them ponder the question: “Wouldn’t you rather go through life dreaming big and missing occasionally than just never trying?”

Jonny strongly believes in putting self-limiting beliefs and negative mindsets to the test, as only then can you truly know what you are capable of.

Contact Great British Speakers today to book inspirational elite para-athlete, former British Army Officer and ultra-distance runner Jonny Huntington for your next event.

Type Of Speaker

After Dinner Disability Keynote Motivational Personal Development Resilience Speaker Sport

More About Jonny Huntington

Jonny Huntington | Sporting Accomplishments

Before his stroke, one of Jonny’s biggest passions was endurance sport. After his rehabilitation, he returned to the world of long distance, multi-day challenges, proving that physical disability is no barrier to achievement.

Some of Jonny’s recent accomplishments include:

Competing in 2017 and 2019 IPC World Cup events
Ranking 43rd in the World in Para Cross Country Skiing
Multiple Visma Ski Classic series finishes
3rd place in the GB Para Climbing Championships in both 2019 and 2020
Guided for the alpine ski touring challenge event Everest in the Alps in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Part of the world’s first adaptive team to kayak from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 2021.
Ran the entire South West Coast Path (1014 km, 37,000m vertical gain) in 27 days in 2022.

Jonny Huntingdon inspirational elite para-athlete motivational speaker at agent Great British Speakers

Jonny Huntington | Sights on Antarctica

In November 2024, Jonny his hoping to embark on a unique and arduous journey to the South Pole from the continental shelf of Antarctica, a distance of over 900 km. He will do so alone, with no support or assistance, and in doing so, he will become the first ever disabled person to solo the South Pole.

Fewer than 50 people in history have soloed the South Pole, a feat that has never been done by a disabled person.

In preparing for the event, Jonny has been spending lots of time in the gym, on outdoor trails, and will complete 12 weeks of training in Sweden to prepare for his expedition, which he expects will take 40 days to complete.

He hopes to raise money for his chosen charities, which are the Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team (AFPST), the Adaptive Grand Slam (AGS), and the Invictus Games Foundation (IGF).

Jonny Huntington | BRIT Ambassador

Jonny is an ambassador for BRIT (British Inspiration Trust), a charity that supports the mental health, fitness, and wellbeing, of young adults, students, and staff, throughout the UK. Jonny champions the annual BRIT Challenge, an inclusive feel-good fundraiser to improve mental health and fitness, while raising money for local, regional and national charities.

Every UK university, college, specialist college and Students’ Union are invited to register to take part, enter teams, and support student and staff participation, both on campus or at home.

With physical activity crucially linked with mental health and cognitive fitness, it’s vital to support and improve this across the board. BRIT are focused on inclusivity so that people feel empowered to enable themselves to keep physically and mentally fit, regardless of whether they are disabled or not.

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Jonny Huntington | Speaking Topics

Jonny is an inspirational speaker who leaves a lasting impression on his audiences. He adapts his talks to meet the needs of the audience but he often shares his journey, managing mindset, being prepared to fail and dreaming big. Popular topics include:

How clarity of purpose enables elite performance in any field
Why planning and preparedness are fundamental to achievement
What factors lie beneath the surface of world-class performance

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book inspirational elite para-athlete, former British Army Officer and ultra-distance runner Jonny Huntington for your next event. Contact us.