Vote for January’s Allianz Athlete of the Month

Star-studded shortlist features new names to kick off 2020’s voting 06 Feb 2020
Imagen
Japanese man in wheelchair hits a return shot in tennis
Japan's Shingo Kunieda won his 10th Australian Open singles title
ⒸGetty Images
By IPC

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has released the shortlist for January’s Allianz Athlete of the Month, and fans can now vote for the winner on www.paralympic.org.

The nominations are:

Michelle Jorgensen, Canada, judo
Jorgensen delivered gold for hosts Canada at the American Championships on her IBSA Judo debut in the women’s up to 70kg.

 

Shingo Kunieda, Japan, wheelchair tennis
Won the Australian Open to bring his Grand Slam record to 44, equalling that of Dutch legend Ester Vergeer. He beat Brit Gordon Reid 6-4, 6-4 in the men’s final, also giving him his 10th Australian Open.

Zhang Mengqiu, China, alpine skiing
The standing skier won the first ever gold medal for China at a World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup, capturing it in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, by beating out eight-time Paralympic champion Marie Bochet of France. She added three more gold medals at the following two World Cups.

 

Kate O’Brien, Canada, cycling
Broke the 500m time trial WC4 world record at her first UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships, recording 35.223 seconds; none of the following 12 riders got near her. 

 

Anja Wicker, Germany, Nordic skiing
Defeated last season’s overall Crystal Globe winner in biathlon, Kendall Gretsch, and fellow USA sit skier Oksana Masters, to win her home World Cup in Altenberg.

 

The public has until 12:00 (CEST) on Thursday (13 February) to vote for the athlete they want to be the Allianz Athlete of the Month for January 2020 via the International Paralympic Committee homepage.

The nominations are compiled from submissions by National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) and International Federations (IFs).