KENT school teacher Patrick Papougnot has become only the third athlete in history to complete a London to Paris triathlon.

Papougnot, who lives in Church Street, Walmer, near Deal, undertook the challenge of attempting to run/swim/ride from Marble Arch to the Arc de Triomphe to celebrate this year’s 100th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between Britain and France.

The 41-year-old Frenchman also raised £1,600 in sponsorship for Cancer Research UK in memory of his father Jean-Claude, who died of the disease.

Papougnot, deputy head at Northbourne Park School, ran from Marble Arch to Dover Harbour in three stages between August 13-15 in 17 hours 37 minutes.

Bad weather meant he had to do the cycle ride from Wissant to the Arc de Triomphe before his Channel swim. Again Papougnot did the leg in three stages from August 22-24, taking a total time of 17 hours 56 seconds.

Then, when the weather finally improved four days later, he swam the Channel from Dover to near Calais in 15 hours 17 minutes, producing a total time from London to Paris of 59 hours and 50 minutes.

He said after the swim: “It was hell and sheer pleasure, especially when I had to swim against the tide for the last three miles. As soon as I landed on the beach in France, my body systems shut down and I could not move anymore. That was it.”

started the swim accompanied by his wife Sophie, and they had hoped to become the first couple to swim the Channel together, but Sophie had to stop after two hours because she was feeling unwell.

Papougnot added: “I would like to thank my support team, Sophie, David Gisby (photographer), Nancy Paton-Smith (masseur) and my coach, Charlie Low, for their unlimited trust and confidence.

“Also, as a member of Deal Tri, I am in debt of the excellent coaching and training that I have found in this local triathlon club. Triathlon is a terrific way of improving your fitness through swimming, cycling and running.”