Jonny Huntington

Jonny Huntington is an elite endurance athlete, polar explorer, stroke survivor and highly sought-after speaker. Combining his extraordinary life story with academic expertise and elite sporting experience, Jonny inspires audiences to redefine resilience, ambition, and human potential. His greatest accomplishment to date is becoming the first disabled person in history to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole – an extraordinary 911km journey completed in 46 days across one of the harshest environments on Earth.

Jonny’s story began in the British Army, where he served as a commissioned officer. Just eight weeks into his military career in 2014, he suffered a massive stroke, resulting in complete paralysis on the left side of his body from the neck down. After a long and intensive rehabilitation process, he defied medical expectations by not only regaining his mobility but going on to thrive in elite sport. Alongside his recovery, Jonny studied to become a sports scientist specialising in psychophysiology, cognition and nutrition, determined to understand and master the limits of human performance from both a physical and mental perspective.

Following his recovery, Jonny rose to prominence as a Great Britain Para Nordic skier, representing his country at IPC World Cup events between 2017 and 2019. He has competed in extreme endurance challenges including being part of the first adaptive team to kayak from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 2021, and running the South West Coast Path (1,014km with 37,000m elevation) in just 27 days in 2022. His achievements have not only established him as a respected figure in adventure and disability sport but also as a passionate advocate for mental health and resilience. He is an ambassador for the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) and works with multiple charities supporting disabled athletes and veterans.

Today, Jonny delivers transformative keynote speeches and leadership workshops for companies across industries including tech, finance, and education. He covers key themes such as Resilience, Translating Ambition into Achievement, Performance Optimisation, Thriving with Disability, and Values-Based Leadership. His talks go far beyond motivation – blending science, lived experience and storytelling to empower individuals and organisations to overcome obstacles, innovate under pressure, and thrive in uncertainty. Whether you’re looking to inspire your workforce or embed lasting cultural change, Jonny brings both credibility and compassion to the stage.