Meet Jon Gildea

Para-cycling Double World Champion

Chasing Rainbows

Jon has always loved mountain bike racing and represented Great Britain at junior level from the age of 13 competing at the world championships, Germany.  Fast forward 20-years, with a family and successful business, Jon enjoyed cycling as a hobby in 2012 when his life changed forever.

Jon was badly injured in a mountain bike accident, suffering severe leg and nerve trauma requiring many reconstructive surgeries.  Despite this life changing event and being told that he’d never walk again, let alone ride a bike, Jon set his goal to join the British Cycling para-cycling programme in 2013.  He was given his nickname of ‘100% Jon’ by his teammates due to his maximum effort and enthusiasm.

Jon’s first taste of international success came in 2016 as a C5 cyclist, when he won his first global medal on the track – silver in the scratch race at the world championships in Montichiari.  Jon missed out on selection for Rio 2016, but he stayed home to support his British Cycling team mates in the media.  Soon after Rio, Jon claimed the first rainbow jersey of his career with a stunning ride in the individual pursuit at the 2017 track world championships in LA.  A first world title was swiftly followed by a second, as he added scratch race gold to his medal collection on the final day of those championships.

One year later, and soon after the loss of his inspirational father, Jon once again showed his international class, winning individual pursuit silver at the 2018 track world championships in Rio.  He followed this up with a gold in the omnium in 2019 track world championships in Apeldorn.

At the 2020 track world championships, Jon broke his pursuit personal best on his way to a bronze medal.

Jon retired from the British Cycling team in 2023 after 10 memorable years on the team.  Nowadays he’s still giving 100% as a business and family man, read more about him in his latest blogs here >>

MEET JON

Selected Career Highlights to Date

2020
UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Milton (Canada)
Bronze, Individual Pursuit

2019
UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Apeldoorn (Netherlands)
Gold, Omnium

2018
UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Silver, Individual pursuit

2017
UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Los Angeles (USA)
Gold, Individual pursuit
Gold, Scratch race
Silver, Kilo

2016
UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Montichiari (Italy)
Silver, Scratch race

Read more at British Cycling here >>

Businessman on a Bike

Lessons in Life & Leadership

Jon is a fully qualified and experienced Financial Adviser and Partner of Money & Mortgages.  Jon established his successful business with founding Partner Marc Harrison in 2004.

Based in central Manchester, Money & Mortgages provides award-winning financial advice and planning across the North West UK and beyond.  It is a privately owned company supported by Openwork, one of the largest and longest-established financial advice networks in the UK.  Money & Mortgages has grown organically to establish itself as one of the leading providers of financial planning in Manchester and the North West.  Find out more >>

AMBASSADOR

Jon currently supports the following brands:

From the blog