Who should be June’s Americas ‘Athlete of the Month’?

Track athlete Daniel Romanchuk of USA, swimmer Diego Lopez of Mexico, field athlete Francisca Mardones of Chile, wheelchair tennis player Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina, track athlete Petrucio Ferreira of Brazil, blind footballer Ricardinho of Brazil, track athletes Sean Gerena of Puerto Rico and Sherman Guity of Costa Rica have been shortlisted for June 2018´s Americas ‘Athlete of the Month’ poll.

The public are invited to vote for their winner via the Americas Paralympic Committee homepage until Tuesday (10 July).

The nominations are:

Daniel Romanchuk, USA, athletics

Rose to the top of the men’s T54 world rankings after smashing two world records in the space of two weeks in the men’s 5,000m (9:44.84) and 800m (1:29.66).

Diego Lopez, Mexico, swimming

Set a world record of 1:32.83 in the men’s 100m backstroke S3 and took a total of two golds, one silver and one bronze at the Berlin World Series.

Francisca Mardones, Chile, athletics

Broke her own Americas record* with a 6.93m throw in the women’s shot put F54 at the Berlin Grand Prix.

Gustavo Fernandez, Argentina, wheelchair tennis

Defeated Belgium’s Joachim Gerard 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the BNP Paribas Open de France to win his first Super Series title of the year.

Petrucio Ferreira, Brazil, athletics

Ran 10.50 in the Paris Grand Prix, lowering his own 100m T47 world record and getting closer to 10.46, the time of the fastest Paralympian in history (Jason Smyth at London 2012).

Ricardinho, Brazil, blind football

Showed once again why he is one of history’s best after finishing as the World Championships top scorer with 10 goals to lead Brazil to their sixth title.

Sean Gerena, Puerto Rico, athletics

Won silver in the men’s long jump T36 at the Arizona Grand Prix thanks to a 4.31m jump, his country’s best performance at the event.

Sherman Guity, Costa Rica, athletics

Only a year after having his left foot amputated, the Costa Rican sprinter won two bronze medals at the Arizona Grand Prix.

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

The 2018 Americas Athlete of the Month winners are:

• January – Fernando Fuentes, El Salvador, swimming

• February – Brenna Huckaby, USA, snowboard

• March – Cristian Ribera, Brazil, Nordic skiing

• April – Daniela Gimenez, Argentina, swimming

• May – Juan Carlos Garrido, Chile, powerlifting

*Subject to ratification by World Para Athletics