USOC announces Paralympic athletes and team of year

Award winners for Paralympic sportswoman, sportsman and team of the year include swimmer Jessica Long, wheelchair racer Raymond Martin and the men's quad doubles wheelchair tennis team. 18 Sep 2012

USA's Jessica Long swims in the 400m freestyle S8 heats on Day 2 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

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By IPC

"We are so proud to honour these young men and women who represent the finest ambassadors of sport."

The United States Olympic Committee has announced its annual award recipients for Paralympic athletes and teams of the year. Each of the 2011-12 honourees were part of Team USA's outstanding performance at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and all are reigning Paralympic champions.

Swimmer Jessica Long was named Paralympic SportsWoman of the Year; wheelchair racer Raymond Martin was named Paralympic SportsMan of the Year; and the U.S. men's quad doubles wheelchair tennis team was designated Paralympic Team of the Year.

Jessica Long, Paralympic SportsWoman of the Year

Long collected eight medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games to tie for the most of any athlete and bring her total Paralympic medal count to 17 over three Games.

The 20-year-old grabbed gold in five events in London, including the 100m and 400m freestyle (S8), in which she lowered her world-record times, the 100m breaststroke (SB7), 200m individual medley (SM8) and 100m butterfly (S8). She also claimed silver in the 100m backstroke (S8) and the 4x100m freestyle relay (34 points), and bronze in the 4x100m medley relay (34 points).

Swimming World Magazine named Long Disabled Swimmer of the Year in 2011, and in 2012, she won her second ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete with a Disability.

Raymond Martin, Paralympic SportsMan of the Year

In his first Paralympic Games, 18-year-old Raymond Martin struck nothing but gold, winning every event he entered in London. Competing in the T52 class, Martin secured Team USA's first track & field gold of the Games after winning the 100m. He then cruised to victory in the 400m, before securing the top podium spot in the 800m. The 200m world-record holder then completed his sweep of the sprint events, posting a time of 30.25 seconds in the 200m, his premier event.

US men's quad doubles wheelchair tennis team, Paralympic Team of the Year

The US men's quad doubles tennis team of Nick Taylor and David Wagner captured its third consecutive gold medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The winning duo, which has dominated the field since quad doubles was introduced at the 2004 Paralympic Games, outlasted favourites Andrew Lapthorne and Peter Norfolk of Great Britain, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, to defend its title.

In addition to winning doubles gold at the London Games, Taylor and Wagner each medalled in the individual competition, with Wagner claiming silver and bringing his total medal count to five, and Taylor earning bronze to improve his medal count to four overall.

"We are so proud to honour these young men and women who represent the finest ambassadors of sport," said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. "Through their commitment to excellence on and off the field, these athletes represent our country with incredible grace and composure, and their outstanding achievements are an inspiration to all Americans."

The awards will be presented alongside Olympic awards at a celebratory dinner during the 2012 US Olympic and Paralympic Assembly held 20-21 September at the Antlers Hilton Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo.