Who should be Americas ‘Athlete of the Month’?

Argentina’s Silvio Velo, Brazil’s Andre Brasil, Mexico’s Amalia Perez and Jose de Jesus Castillo Castillo and USA’s Jessica Long are the five shortlisted Para athletes for the Americas ‘Athlete of the Month’ poll for December 2017.

The public are invited to vote for their winner via the Americas Paralympic Committee homepage and have time to do so until Wednesday (17 January).

The nominations are:

Amalia Perez, powerlifting, Mexico

Won her third world title after clearing the bar at 123kg in the women’s up to 55kg at Mexico City 2017. She did not suffer from the pressure of competing in front of her home crowd as she topped the Worlds podium again after 11 years.

Andre Brasil, swimming, Brazil

Enjoyed his most successful World Championships in Mexico City, winning seven golds and one silver including six individual titles. Brasil’s compatriot Phelipe Rodrigues was the only swimmer who stopped him from making it eight golds by beating him in the men’s 50m freestyle S10.

Jessica Long, swimming, USA

Performed a clean sweep at Mexico City 2017 by winning all eight of her events, ending as the competition’s most decorated swimmer and rounding off her most successful World Championships to date. Long won six individual and two relay titles.

Jose de Jesus Castillo Castillo, powerlifting, Mexico

Won a dramatic world title in the men’s up to 107kg at Mexico City 2017 thanks to a 236kg lift in his final attempt. Castillo Castillo was in third position after two rounds, but his home crowd gave him the strength to produce an epic comeback.

Silvio Velo, blind football, Argentina

Velo led his team to its first major title since 2005 at the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) Blind Football American Championships in Santiago, Chile. Argentina beat the all-conquering Brazilian team in the final to end their 57-match winning streak.

The nominations are compiled from submissions by National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) from across 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, Para ice hockey

• May – Bruna Costa Alexandre, Brazil, table tennis

• June – Brent Lakatos, Canada, athletics

• July – Mauricio Valencia, Colombia, athletics

• August – Diego Meneses, Colombia, athletics

• September – Stefan Daniel, Canada, triathlon

• October – Tatyana McFadden, USA, athletics

• November – Esteban Chavez, Costa Rica, blind football