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TOO INJURED TO COMPETE?

Background

Jon lost both legs above the knee and his right arm above the elbow in Afghanistan when he stood on a home made land mine (IED) in June 2010.  At the time he was an exceptionally fit Royal Marines Officer having gained his Green Beret at the age of 19 and passing the Mountain Leader course at 23.  His fitness and mindset were key to his unfeasible physical recovery; just 27 nights in hospital, using prosthetics within 9 weeks and being able to live wheelchair free in just 12 months of rehabilitation.  In 2012, he completed the Devizes to Westminster kayak marathon with Lee Waters - 125 miles and 77 portages with a 30% average drop out each year.  They were awarded the Gluckstein trophy for endeavour.  Jon’s focus turned away from the physical challenges as he built a house, started a family and built a new career as a leadership consultant.  However he kept himself fit, even whilst enduring 17 reconstructive surgeries and the draw of physical challenges has re-emerged.

Kayaking Achievements and Goals

In September 2018 he bought a K1 kayak and started training again.  He and Lee completed the DW again in 2019, this time in 26hrs 26 mins.  Jon then competed in the Haslar Marathon series, going from division 9 to division 5 in his first season, competing against able bodied competitors. In 2019 he was also approached to race Ocean Surf Skis.  After 1 introductory session, he then competed in the Epic Bay Race, beating some able bodied and more experienced paddlers and in the process qualifying for the Icon Classic and qualifying for the World Cup and World Championships.  He was the first ever para athlete to compete in a world level Ocean Race, again beating some abled bodied competitors.  He Achieved a Silver Medal at the World Championships in his Paracanoe category.  As there is no category for arm disabilities, his competitors all have both arms, this does not deter him but has inspired the International Canoe Federation to look into creating new upper limb categories.  Most recently he was the first para-athlete to complete the Atlantic Ocean Surfski World Cup race in Lanzorte, February 2020.

Jon’s injuries are so extensive that para sport simply doesn’t have a category that accounts for all his injuries.  Despite this he trains and races with able bodied peers.  It is all being done whilst studying full time at Exeter University (MSci Applied Psychology (Clinical)), whilst working and whilst being a father.  

His aims are to make able bodied British Division 3 by the end of the 2021 season and Division 2 marathon racing by 2022 and represent Great Britain in the first paracanoe marathon. He continues to represent Great Britain in Ocean Racing and is aiming for a Gold Medal at the World Championships in July 2021, to be held in Lanzarote.  Meanwhile his endeavours have helped to encourage the International Canoe Federation to look at new classifications for arm amputees.  There is a chance this will be introduced for the Paris 2024 Paralympics, if it is or isn’t, Jon is aiming to be in the GB team at the games, even if he is still competing against 2 armed competitors.  Other Ocean Racing goals include completing the following races over the next 5 years: The Molokai (Hawaii), The Cape Point Challenge (South Africa), The Gorge (USA), The Doctor (Australia) and The Dragon Run (Hong Kong).   These are the most famous and challenging races on the World Cup circuit.

The Royal Marines Charity will be supporting Jon on his endeavours.  This is expected to cost about £150,000 over the 5 year period, £70,000-00 in year 1 and then £20,000-00 for each of the following years.  The funds will cover special adapted equipment, specialist prosthetic limbs, race entry and travel and the costs of safety support/coaching for training and races.  

As well as supporting his endeavours, Jon hopes to raise money and awareness to support other Royal Marines when they need it.