A BRADFORD district athlete is celebrating a historic achievement after he stepped on the podium at the Paralympics.

Bingley's Guillaume Atangana won the first-ever Paralympic medal for the Refugee Team - a bronze in the T11 400m event at Paris 2024.

The visually impaired runner fled war-torn Cameroon three years ago and settled in West Yorkshire, where he trains at Bradford Keighley and Skipton Disability Athletics.

“I’m very happy to have this medal,” said the 25-year-old, who carried the Refugee Paralympic Team flag at the opening ceremony.

“This medal shows that the Paralympic movement for refugees galvanises people.

"It's a great honour for me. I've written my moment in history."

Atangana, known as Junior, was guided around the track by sighted running partner Donard Ndim Nyamjua.

He is the first male refugee to win a medal at the Olympic or Paralympic Games.

Atangana reached the podium in a personal best time of 50.89 seconds in the one-lap event, with gold going to Colombia’s Enderson Santos Gonzalez and a popular silver to Timothee Adolphe of France.

He fled his native Cameroon just after finishing fourth at Tokyo 2020 in 2021.

"It promises good things,” said Atangana of his achievement.

"The next Games I promise to return, and I promise to be higher on the podium.

"I want to continue sport. I can't give up. There are lots of people behind me. It will always be my fight to show that sport gives you lots of things.

"In our daily life it allows us to do beautiful things."

On his message to refugees, Atangana said:  "Believe in yourself that a refugee can do many things. Sport is good. It helps us for many things. Do everything you need to do. You have to keep positive."

On the achievement, Bradford Council said: "Congratulations to Guillaume Junior Atangana (known as Junior) who along with his guide Donard has won a bronze medal in this year's Paralympic Games in Paris in the Men's 400m - T11 event.

"Gaining a personal best along the way!

"Junior lives in Bingley and and Donard in Bradford and they are both part of Bradford Keighley and Skipton Disability Athletics and are coached by Janet-Alison Arkwright at the club.

"Go Junior & Donard!"

Atangana is also taking part in the Men's 100m - T11 event, which starts tomorrow (Wednesday, September 4).

Aldi are proud official partners of Team GB & ParalympicsGB, supporting all athletes at Paris 2024.