Valenzuela named Americas ‘Athlete of the Month’

Rebeca Valenzuela Alvarez has been chosen as Americas ‘Athlete of the Month’ for February after receiving 50 per cent of the public vote.

The Mexican field athlete established an Americas record* of 13.15 in the women’s shot put F12 on her way to gold at the Dubai Grand Prix, breaking her own mark of 13.05 she had set at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

Taekwondo fighter Debora Menezes received massive support from Brazil to end closely behind in the poll with 46 per cent. Menezes captured her country’s first Para taekwondo world title with a clinical 7-3 win over Uzbekistan’s Guljonoy Naimova in Antalya, Turkey.

Nordic skiers Collin Cameron of Canada and Oksana Masters of USA were also nominated.

The nominations were compiled from submissions by National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) from across the continent.

The 2019 Americas Athlete of the Month winners are:

• January – Johanna Sossa and Johana Martinez, Colombia, wheelchair tennis

• February – Rebeca Valenzuela Alvarez, Mexico, athletics

*Subject to ratification by World Para Athletics