Jonny Huntington praises Guinness for recognising disabled athletes
The Devon-based athlete is now preparing to raise awareness of veteran mental health as part of his next challenge in America
A Devon explorer's been telling us his recognition from Guinness is also a needed recognition for the disabled.
Jonny Huntington's made the latest book, after becoming the first disabled person to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole.
Just 52 people have ever successfully skied to the South Pole without support and Jonny completed the challenge in 45 days, 14 hours, 15 minutes.
A stroke left Jonny, then aged 28, with complete left-side paralysis from the neck down and after years of intense rehab he is now a 3x Guinness World Record holder who lives with permanent brain damage resulting in a significant lack of strength, mobility and control down his left side.
Mr Huntington says the latest recognition from Guinness is welcome, adding: "Particularly as a disabled athlete where the reality to it is there isn't a plethora of platforms available to us for recognition, it is a really important and valuable part of it that there is a body there that does recognise these things."
He added: "I found that lots and lots of aspects of the polar community were not prepared to recognise the fact that I was a disabled athlete and the fact that Guinness have is a really important thing for people with disabilities."
The athlete now plans to attempt 50 marathons in 50 American states in 50 days with fellow injured veterans.
He said: "We're really looking at doing that to promote a more positive approach to mental health for serving soldiers and veterans."
Mr Huntingdon is also joined by other South West record holders featured in Guinness World Records 2027 including Shaka Surf from Poole in Dorset for 'most dogs riding on a paddleboard' and John Ferguson the 'shortest person to wing walk' which was achieved in Cirencester, Gloucestershire.