Bradford College students get set to compete in Paralympics

Guillaume ‘Junior’ Atangana, 25, and Donard Nyamjua, 32, reached this unbelievable goal with lots of determination and the support of Bradford College.

After Junior lost his eyesight at age six, a PE teacher suggested he take up running due to his natural speed. This led Junior to compete in para-athletics.

Junior has never let his disability hold him back, but instead uses it as a source of strength.

Donard worked with visually impaired athletes and has been a guide runner since 2013. He began training with Junior in 2019, and together they became an unstoppable force.

After Junior and Donard participated in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the pair made the difficult decision to seek asylum in the UK. The situation in Cameroon was becoming more dangerous and it was impossible to pursue their athletics careers safely.

Junior and Donard are now students at Bradford College, with Junior studying ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and Donard GCSE English and Maths Entry Level 3.

Junior said, “We come to College three times a week and meet with our tutors. For me, in particular, my English skills have improved greatly, which is helping me interact better with people.”

Donard added, “The College has been incredibly supportive, making sure we have what we need to balance our studies and training.”

Junior and Donard now train with the Bradford Keighley and Skipton Disability Athletics Club under coach Janet-Alison Arkwright.

Their talent has already taken them across the globe, from Dubai to Italy and South Africa.

Their focus is now on the T11 400m event at the Paralympics - for athletes with the greatest level of vision impairment and who compete with a guide runner.

For Junior, this means relying entirely on Donard for pace, direction, and communication during the race.

Junior and Donard say they are not just competing for medals at the Paralympics - which begin today and run until September 8 - but represent millions of refugees worldwide who face challenges and adversity.

There's still chance to enrol for courses (Image: Bradford College)

THIS year saw some of the best grades on record at Bradford College after exceptional Level 2 and 3 results days.

Impressive university destinations included medicine at Imperial College London, Biochemistry at the University of Liverpool, Law at Queen Mary (University of London), Pharmacy at Strathclyde University, and Biomedical Sciences at University of Bradford. Bradford College enrolment is now underway for the next academic year.

Large numbers have already signed up for classes starting next month. Courses cover all levels, from T Levels and BTECs to degrees and in subjects from Art & Design to Automotive & Motor Vehicle training.

Online applications for September starts are now closed, but students can apply in person at the David Hockney Building until September 9.

For more about degrees and clearing call (01274) 088099 or email clearing@bradfordcollege.ac.uk

For more information about enrolment and support, visit bradfordcollege.ac.uk

* AS part of the Bradford College Summer School for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), a number of students and staff visited Bradford City Hall.

The group had the opportunity to chat with The Lord Mayor, Councillor Beverley Mullaney. The event was part of valuable enrichment activities linked to civic values and the duties of all citizens living in a democratic country.

Students enjoyed meeting the Lord Mayor (Image: Bradford College)

Students loved the experience, comments included: “I feel privileged to be able to visit such a historic place" and “I feel like I've met royalty!" All agreed the Lord Mayor was approachable and genuinely interested in the students and their stories.

ESOL courses are designed for students who do not speak English as a first language.

They give students a greater chance of getting a job and learning to communicate more effectively with the wider community.

Find out more by visiting bradfordcollege.ac.uk/adult-courses/esol.

Christos Tzelis, centre, represented Great Britain at the European Triathlon Multisport Championships (Image: Bradford College)

A FORMER Bradford College student triumphed this summer as a European duathlon champion - a challenging event with long-distance running and cycling.

Christos Tzelis, a Level 3 Sports student, represented Great Britain at the European Triathlon Multisport Championships in Portugal.

After only joining Ilkley Harriers and Cycling Club in 2020, Christos discovered a talent for hill climbing. He tried out for the duathlon and was selected for the European Championships.

Christos started the event with a 5km run before jumping on his bike for a 20km ride. Then he was back on foot for a final 2.5km run which saw him cross the finish line first.

Gary Bradwell, Bradford College Head of Sport, said: “We are so proud of Christos’s achievements. It’s an exciting time for Sport at the College, and it’s only going to get better heading into the new 2024/25 academic year!”

* Check out Sports & Fitness courses on the Bradford College website - bradfordcollege.ac.uk