IPC announces November’s Athlete of the Month shortlist

Nominees for November’s Athlete of the Month include: Bibian Mentel, Jiske Griffioen, Norway’s wheelchair curling team, Russia’s ice sledge hockey team and Brazil men’s wheelchair basketball team. 03 Dec 2012

Bibian Mentel played a key role in getting snowboarding on the Paralympic programme for Sochi 2014

ⒸBibian Mentel

By IPC

The public now has until 12:00 (CEST) on 10 December to vote for which athlete or team it thought had the best performance last month.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced its shortlist for November’s Athlete of the Month award, and the public can now vote for the winner via the poll on the www.paralympic.org homepage.

Last month was highlighted by the World Wheelchair Curling qualification event, the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey B Pool World Championships and the first IPC-sanctioned snowboard event, in addition to several wheelchair tennis major events and the South American Wheelchair Basketball Championships.

The finalists for November’s top performers include:

- Bibian Mentel (Netherlands): The Dutch rider won the first IPC-sanctioned snowboard event on her home course in Landgraaf, the Netherlands.

- Jiske Griffioen (Netherlands): The world’s No. 4-ranked player won her first NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters, defeating her compatriot Aniek van Koot in a near two-hour final match.

- Norway wheelchair curling team: Norway qualified for February’s Wheelchair Curling World Championships after finishing in first place at November’s World Wheelchair Curling qualification event in Finland.

- Russia ice sledge hockey team: Just two years after starting up their programme, the Russians won gold at the 2012 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey B Pool World Championships and are moving to the A Pool for 2013.

- Brazil men’s wheelchair basketball team: Brazil defeated Argentina for gold at the South American Wheelchair Basketball Championships, earning themselves a place at next year’s Americas Cup.

The public now has until 12:00 (CEST) on 10 December to vote for which athlete or team it thought had the best performance last month.