Billy Monger is one of the Paris 2024 Paralympics hosts on Channel 4, presenting alongside Vick Hope.
He was also one of the four famous faces taking part in Celebrity Race Across the World 2023 – just six years after tragically losing both his legs in a horrifying accident.
Billy was just 17 years of age when he was involved in a terrifying crash that subsequently caused him to have both his limbs amputated. And, in a rare insight into his condition, he admitted that “learning to walk again was frustrating”.
Billy, now 25, joined Melanie Blatt, Alex Beresford and Harry Judd for the epic 10,000km race. And now he’s taking on a new challenge…
Billy Monger on Celebrity Race Across the World
British racing driver and pundit Billy Monger took part in the BBC One series with his sister, Bonny.
Explaining why he wanted to take part in BBC One‘s Celebrity Race Across the World, he said: “We’ve spoken about going travelling before. So, we sat down and watched it and got more and more into it and then decided why not?”
Billy Monger on hosting the Paralympics
Speaking to Channel 4, Billy wa excited to head to Paris for the Games.
“I’ve only been to Paris on a handful of occasions for work and I haven’t spent more than one night in a row there, so this will be my first chance to see what Paris has got to offer. I know I’m going to enjoy the pastries and all the lovely French foods,” he said.
“When I’ve been to Paris before, I’ve seen the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, but I never been inside, so I might do that!”
He then added: “I’m looking forward to being at a Games when it isn’t COVID. Last time, the Winter Paralympics was under restrictions, so you didn’t get to feel the buzz around the city. I think this is going to bring Paris to life even more than it usually is.”
How did Paralympics host Billy Monger lose his legs?
Double amputee Billy tragically lost both his legs in a horrific crash at Donington Park. In April 2017 – just weeks before his 18th birthday – he was critically injured in a collision. Billy almost died after crashing at high speed into the back of Finnish driver Patrik Pasma. Patrick was not seriously injured in the crash. It took crew 90 minutes to cut Billy free from the car.
His injuries were so catastrophic that both of his legs had to be amputated, one below and the other above the knee. His left leg was amputated high above the knee, leaving him with a short stump of his thigh. Billy’s right leg is longer, being amputated below the knee. The extra length and use of the joint enables him to drive modified cars.
The accident triggered one of the fastest-growing JustGiving campaigns in history, with nearly 20,000 people, including Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, donating more than £800,000 to help with Billy’s rehabilitation.
After treatment and therapy, he returned to competing in November 2017. In 2018, he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.
In 2021, Surrey-born Billy Monger completed Billy’s Big Challenge, covering a distance of 140 miles (230km) by walking, kayaking and cycling. He raised over £3 million for Comic Relief.
‘Learning to walk again was frustrating’
Talking about his accident, Billy said: “Racing is a dangerous sport, and I knew that as a driver before, but obviously you don’t expect that to happen.”
His ultimate goal, as it was before he lost his legs, is to race in Formula One. He now says: “I am an amputee – that’s just a fact. But I don’t really like using the term ‘disabled’. If I’m able to do it, I’ll do it. I’ve got a blue badge for parking, but that’s about as far as it goes. Though my parents normally try to nick it off me.”
Talking about his recovery, he adds: “I want to get everything done quickly, so learning to walk again was frustrating. I dreaded it [swimming]. Not only was I in a wheelchair and everything was on show, but they had to crane me into the pool.”
However, he now says he is “mentally a lot stronger than I was before”. He concludes: “Racing used to be my life, and if I didn’t get really good results, it would be the end of the world and I’d get really down about it.
“Now, though I’m still focused on winning, I know there are more important things.”
The Paralympics is on Channel 4 every day till September 8.
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