Who should be Americas ‘Athlete of the Month’?

London 2017 medallists Petrucio Ferreira, Brent Lakatos, Mauricio Valencia, Damian Carcelen and Tatyana McFadden are the five shortlisted Para athletes for the Americas ‘Athlete of the Month’ poll for July 2017.

The public are invited to vote for their winner via the Americas Paralympic Committee homepage and have time to do so until Wednesday (16 August).

The nominations are:

Petrucio Ferreira, Brazil

At the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017, Ferreira obliterated his own 100m T47 world record that he set at Rio 2016, before completing a sprint double with another world record, this time in the 200m.

Brent Lakatos, Canada

At 37, Lakatos showed age is not a factor as he won 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m T53 events at London 2017.

Mauricio Valencia, Colombia

Claimed Colombia’s only gold at London 2017 in the men’s javelin F34; and followed that up with bronze in the shot put F34.

Damian Carcelen, Ecuador

Became his country’s first medallist at a World Para Athletics Championships by winning silver in the men’s 400m T20 with a time of 49.20, finishing behind Brazil’s Daniel Martins (47.66).

Tatyana McFadden, USA

Won gold in all four of her events to lead Team USA and tie for the most medals of any athlete at the World Para Athletics Championships in London.

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

The 2017 Americas Athlete of the Month winners so far are:

• January – Gustavo Fernandez, Argentina, wheelchair tennis

• February – Alexander Cataldo, Chile, wheelchair tennis

• March – Maria Paula Barrera, Colombia, swimming

• April – Adam Dixon, Canada, ice hockey

• May – Bruna Costa Alexandre, Brazil, table tennis

• June – Brent Lakatos, Canada, athletics