Colombian, Swedish athletes win national awards

“As I always say, you win the medals in the practices and you go to the competitions to pick them up.”

Swimmer Carlos Serrano capped off a fantastic year which saw him claim Colombia’s first Paralympic gold in 36 years, at Rio 2016, by winning the ‘Best Para athlete of the Year’ award, given by national newspaper El Espectador following a popular vote.

Cyclists Nestor Ayala, Diego Duenas and Edwin Matiz, swimmers Moises Fuentes and Nelson Crispin, track and field athletes Javier Diaz, Luis Lucumi, Martha Hernandez, Mauricio Valencia and the women´s 4x100m relay T11-13 team were the other nominees.

“I want to continue training hard, lowering my own times and winning titles for Colombia,” said Serrano, who left Rio with one gold, one silver and one bronze Paralympic medals.

“As I always say, you win the medals in the practices and you go to the competitions to pick them up.”

In 2017, Carlos Serrano will look to defend his world title in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB7 at the World Para Swimming Championships in Mexico City, from 30 September-6 October.

Swedish Para Sports Awards

Para Sport Sweden presented the nominees in the ‘Leader of the Year,’ ‘Best Newcomer’ and ‘Year Model’ categories for the Para sports awards.

Andreas Ions Holm, Daniel Ellerman and Pernilla Svensson are nominated for the ‘Leader of the Year’ award, whilst Rio 2016 equestrian two-time bronze medallist Louise Etzner Jakobsson, Paralympic shooter Philip Jonsson and sailor Ludo Fjeld Dahl are the three athletes shortlisted for ‘Best Newcomer’.

Paralympic swimming champion Maja Reichard, canoeist Helene Ripa and wheelchair rugby player Stefan Jansson will go for the ‘Year Model’ award, given to the person who has been a role model both on and off the field of play in 2016.