A west Wales teenager is preparing to take on an extraordinary endurance challenge by completing a full Ironman-distance triathlon every day for six months.

Frankie Parton, 17, who attends sixth form in Newcastle Emlyn, plans to launch Project 184 Wales on 24 June 2027, with the aim of completing 184 consecutive full-distance triathlons before finishing on Christmas Day.

Each day will involve a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a full 26.2 mile marathon, with no scheduled rest days during the challenge.

Frankie is taking on the challenge in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance, after the service helped save his father’s life when he needed emergency medical treatment.

He said “when my dad needed emergency medical treatment, the crew from the Wales Air Ambulance were there when every single second counted.

“Project 184 Wales is my way of giving back to the service that saved his life and keeps communities across Wales safe every day.”

The challenge is also intended as a world record attempt. The current world record for consecutive Ironman-distance triathlons stands at 120 days, set by Jonas Deichmann in 2024 across Bavaria, Germany. The British record currently sits at 105 days, the feat completed by Sean Conway in 2023, meaning Project 184 would push the national, and global benchmark considerably further if successfully completed.

Speaking about the prospect of the challenge, Frankie said: “It’s a strange mix of absolute nervous terror and stubborn excitement.

“You look at the sheer scale of 184 full Ironmans back to back and wonder if your body will actually hold together, but once the commitment is made, fear just turns into fuel.”

His preparation is already centred on building the endurance needed across all three disciplines, alongside strength and conditioning work designed to reduce the risk of repetitive strain and injury.

He is also placing significant emphasis on nutrition, hydration, sleep and recovery, which will become crucial if he is to sustain the effort over such a prolonged period.

Frankie is balancing his training with his A-level studies in Psychology, Geography and PE, as well as his role as a Sapper engineer in the British Army.

He said the schedule required strict time management, with early starts, planned training sessions and recovery treated as an essential part of the programme.

Members of the public will also be invited to take part in sections of the challenge.

An official sign-up form is due to go live on 1 February, allowing supporters to join Frankie for a swim, part of the cycling route or a section of one of the daily marathon runs.

He is also encouraging people to follow and share the project on social media and donate towards the Wales Air Ambulance fundraising campaign.

If completed, the challenge would see Frankie cover more than 25,800 miles across the three disciplines over 184 days, including more than 4,800 miles of running alone.

You can keep up to date with Frankie’s immense challenge via his Instagram @project184wales and website shorturl.at/UqmW0