Who should be December’s Allianz Athlete of the Month?

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has revealed the shortlist for the Allianz Athlete of the Month for December, and the public can now vote for the winner on www.paralympic.org.

The nominations are:

Mohammad Abas Karimi, swimming, Independent Paralympic Athlete

Karimi claimed silver in the men’s 50m butterfly S5 at the 2017 World Para Swimming Championships in Mexico City to become the first refugee swimmer to win a medal at the Worlds.

Carlotta Gilli, swimming, Italy

The Italian teenager had a breakthrough World Championships at the age of 16. At Mexico City 2017 she won five golds and a silver, as well as setting a world record in the women’s 100m butterfly S12-13 and a championships record in the 50m freestyle S13.

Alfie Hewett, wheelchair tennis, Great Britain

Hewett won his first NEC Wheelchair Tennis Singles Masters title after beating compatriot and Rio 2016 champion Gordon Reid 6-3, 6-2 in the final in Loughborough, Great Britain.

Paul Kehinde, powerlifting, Nigeria

Kehinde set a new world record of 220.5kg in the men’s up to 65kg to win the World Para Powerlifting Championships at the expense of China’s three-time Paralympic champion Lei Liu, who lost at a major competition for the first time.

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 public has until 12:00 (CEST) on Tuesday (16 January) to vote for the athlete they want to be the Allianz Athlete of the Month for December 2017 via the www.paralympic.org homepage.

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

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

• January – Jeroen Kampschreur, Netherlands, alpine skiing

• February – Veronica Vadovicova, Slovakia, shooting

• March – Maria Paula Barrera, Colombia, swimming

• April – Jean Niringiyimana, Rwanda, taekwondo

• May – Evan Medell, USA, taekwondo

• June – Alfie Hewett, Great Britain, wheelchair tennis

• July – Petrucio Ferreira, Brazil, athletics

• August - U Cheol Park, South Korea, wheelchair rugby

• September – Zahra Nemati, Iran, archery

• October – Ivan Sivak, Ukraine, Para dance sport

• November – David Wagner and Nick Taylor, USA, wheelchair tennis