Six Paralympians shortlisted for Laureus award

Six Paralympic athletes who all won medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games have been shortlisted for the prestigious Laureus Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award. 13 Dec 2012

A picture of a man with a medal around his neck

Gold medalist David Weir of Great Britain poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for Men's 800m T54 Final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games

ⒸGetty Images

By IPC

The Laureus World Sports Awards recognize the top sporting achievements from the 2012 calendar year, and the winners are voted on by the Laureus World Sports Academy, which is made up of 47 of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen of all time.

Between them the athletes – Patrick Anderson, Johanna Benson, Daniel Dias, Alan Fonteles Cardoso Oliveira, David Weir and Alex Zanardi – claimed 15 gold and two silvers medals at London 2012 and all excelled in their chosen sports.

The Laureus World Sports Awards recognize the top sporting achievements from the 2012 calendar year, and the winners are voted on by the Laureus World Sports Academy, which is made up of 47 of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen of all time.

Here is further information on the nominees for the Laureus Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability:

Patrick Anderson (Canada)

Wheelchair Basketball – World’s best player leads Canada to gold

Averaging 20.7 points over his Paralympic Games career prior to London 2012, Anderson is arguably the best wheelchair basketball player of all time. Anderson has played a key role in the success of the Canadian team since his 1997 debut. At London 2012 he played some of the best wheelchair basketball of his career, helping the team earn their third gold medal in four Paralympic Games.

Johanna Benson (Namibia)

Athletics – Winner of Namibia’s first Games gold medal rewarded with a house

Benson will go down in history as the first winner of a gold medal for Namibia in either the Olympic or Paralympic Games after success in the 200m T37. In her first Games she also won silver in the 100m and set African records in both events. Upon return home Benson was greeted by Namibian President Dr. Hifikepune Pohamba who rewarded her with a diplomatic passport, a house worth N$1.5 million (132,000 euros) and a N$170,000 (15,000 euros) grant.

Daniel Dias (Brazil)

Highlight: Swimming – six golds and six world records at London 2012

Having won nine medals at his first Paralympics in 2008, Dias once again excelled in London winning six individual gold medals all in new world record times. An avid sports fan, Dias was inspired to compete after watching the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games . After his career is over, he wants to devote time to encourage more young people with an impairment in Brazil to take up swimming. He was awarded the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award in 2009.

Alan Fonteles Cardoso Oliveira (Brazil)

Highlight: Athletics - Beating Pistorius to 200m T44 gold

After winning a relay silver medal in his first Paralympic Games in Beijing, 20 year old Oliveira shocked the world with an amazing last 50m to beat South African Oscar Pistorius and win 200m gold at London 2012. It was Pistroius’ first ever 200m defeat and secured global headlines for Oliveira who now promises to be an athlete to look out for at Rio 2016.

David Weir (Great Britain)

Highlight: Athletics – Unbeatable winning four golds from four events in T54 racing

In arguably the most competitive class of wheelchair racing, Weir used the significant pressure of being the home crowd ‘poster boy’ of London 2012 to his advantage. He was unbeatable taking home a record four gold medals in the 800m, 1,500m, 5,000m and marathon. Despite his tough competition schedule in London, Weir served as a mentor for a number of young athletes and continues to work with talented juniors in his London-based training group. Five months prior to London 2012, Weir won a record sixth London marathon title.

Alex Zanardi (Italy)

Highlight: Road Cycling – Ex F1 driver secures two Paralympic golds and a silver

Zanardi’s success in winning two hand cycling gold medals and a silver at his first Paralympic Games was a huge story, made even bigger by the fact that his successes took place at Brands Hathch, a track he used to compete on as a Formula 1 driver. Having lost his legs in a near fatal racing accident in 2001, Zanardi has excelled at Paralympic Sport also winning the Venice, New York and Rome Marathons, setting new records in the latter two. An eclectic sportsman, Zanardi is currently training for both alpine skiing and canoe while also being actively involved in the Bimbingamba Project, a charity he set up with a friend dedicated to helping children who have lost one or several limbs.

The 2013 Laureus World Sports Awards Ceremony, which will be attended by the greatest names in sport, past and present, and broadcast to a worldwide TV audience, will take place on 11 March 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Proceeds from the Laureus World Sports Awards directly benefit and underpin the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which supports 89 community sports projects around the world. Since its inception, Laureus has raised 40 million EUR for projects which have improved the lives of more than one-and-a-half million young people.

The last five winners of the Laureus Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award are as follows:

2012 - Oscar Pistorius (South Africa)

2011 - Verena Bentele (Germany)

2010 - Natalie du Toit (South Africa)

2009 - Daniel Dias (Brazil)

2008 - Esther Vergeer (Netherlands)