Vanessa Cristina de Souza named Americas ´Athlete of the Month´

Vanessa Cristina de Souza has been chosen as Americas ‘Athlete of the Month’ for February after receiving 50 per cent of the public vote.

The Brazilian wheelchair racer was the fastest in the women’s T54 at the Sevilla Marathon with a time of 1:40.23.
Guatemalan Para taekwondo fighter Gersson Mejia, who won the Mexico Open, ended in second place with 46 per cent.

Chilean powerlifter Maria Antonieta Ortiz, US snowboarder Joe Pleban and Salvadoran powerlifter Herbert Aceituno were also shortlisted.

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

The 2020 Americas Athlete of the Month winners are:

• January – Luis Flores, Chile, table tennis

• February – Vanessa Cristina de Souza, Brazil, athletics