Billy Monger was only 17 when his life turned upside down after an accident that left him fighting for survival. The British pilot was competing in a Formula 4 race in England when he collided at high speed with a competitor’s rear – the impact was so severe that the images of the accident are still difficult for his family to watch.
The result was initially terrifying, with Monger needing. In a fraction of a second, the teenager was facing a very different future.
But by spending time with Monger, now 25, you will find a young man with an incredible attitude towards life; Someone who refuses to follow the expected script. And if you needed proof of this, your last achievement provides all the necessary evidence.
Record
In October last year, Monger broke the world record as the fastest bi-amputeal to complete an Ironman. He set the record at the Kona World Championship, Hawaii, considered by many to be one of the most difficult resistance events in the world.
Completed the 226 km route – which includes 4 km of swimming, 180 km of cycling and a complete marathon – in 14 hours, 23 minutes and 56 secondsmore than two hours faster than the previous record.
The athlete, who also works as a commentator and racing analyst, accepted the challenge to raise funds for Comic Relief, a British charity that aims to end world poverty.
“The only time I really think about (my accident) is now at times like when I crossed the line of arrival in Hawaii and I was able to call me a world record holder,” Monger told CNN Sports, reflecting on his last achievement.
“You think at that moment and those dark times and I think it’s more proud than anything else. I don’t see it as something negative that happened to me and has some form of control over my life. That moment, which seemed the end of your world and that everything was crumbling around you, actually brought you to this destiny where you are doing something amazing.”
With the help of specialized coaches who have become part of her nearby family, Monger trained almost every day to put her body and mind in the best possible condition.
“The process of strengthening your mind and body to prepare for this has happened throughout that period of a year,” he told CNN. “Little by little, it was as simple as getting up every day and facing the sessions ahead in the best way possible and accumulate all these small wins.”
Adaptations
As a bi-novide, Monger faced a much more challenging preparation than most. Running, for example, exerted a huge pressure on his stumps, so it was important for his prostheses to fit perfectly. If they were not exactly correct, he knew bubbles and pain could potentially harm his attempt.
Then came cycling, where Monger decided to pedal a common bike instead of a handbike. This meant that the former running pilot had to learn the basics again, especially to unleash the locks when climbing and going down the saddle.
“You are aware (of being bi-novated) throughout the process, there is no escape from it,” said Monger. “I would say that swimming was probably the most liberating of the three disciplines because swimming is really about 80% generated by the upper body in terms of speed and efficiency.”
After navigating swimming and then cycling, the dreaded marathon was approaching the 25 -year -old. It was, in many ways, a complete stranger to Monger, who never ran so much during training.
To make matters worse, competitors in the race are prohibited from using earphones, which means Monger was alone with his thoughts. In those dark moments, when the light was dissipated on the island and he walked with difficulty to the finish line, Monger was able to resort to his life experiences.
“I think going through something so significant probably opened my mind to the fact that most of the challenges we face in our daily lives, sometimes we increase them more than they really are,” he said, reflecting on how the accident in 2017 could have changed more than initially thought.
Emotion
When he crossed the finish line, Monger fell on the road for emotion and exhaustion. His family and girlfriend were soon by his side, overflowing with pride. Although this was a race for charity for Monger, it was also a chance to repay his family, doctors and friends, who were there to support him as he rebuilt his life as a teenager.
But it was also an opportunity for him to prove himself that there was no limitations on what he can achieve in life. “I was basically my own car, it was my own engine, my own fuel, it was a little different from motor racing because I didn’t have to depend on other people for this challenge,” he said.
“The effort I put was the result I got and that was something that in this challenge was quite unique, but I enjoyed.”
Paralympics?
Monger could be forgiven for abandoning Ironman’s world, but this is certainly not the plan. After his record conquest, Monger said he has his eyes firmly fixed on him, where he expects to represent Britain in Pariathlon.
He has had positive conversations with the British Paralympic team and is confident of his ability to qualify for the world’s largest sporting event.
Regardless of what you do next, being a model and helping to support others will continue to be Monger’s main focus. “There are so many negative things happening in the world around us and sometimes it’s hard to find a little positivity,” he said.
“So whatever I try to do, this is in the heart. This world record was positive for me and gave me a lot, but also knowing that it was for others, that was a great fuel for the fire.”
