Public Invited to Vote first 'Athlete of the Month' in 2011

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced its bumper shortlist of eight for January’s ‘Athlete of Month’ following a busy month of sport which included two World Championships.

With Sestriere, Italy having hosted the IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships and Christchurch, New Zealand staged the IPC Athletics World Championships, the shortlist this month takes into account a number of gold medal winning performances from two of the biggest events in the Paralympic calendar.

All members of the public are invited to vote for which athlete they believe they deserves the title via www.facebook.com/Paralympicsport.TV

The shortlist includes:

David Weir

In possibly the most competitive class of athletics, the British athlete won three gold medals out of three races with superb tactical performances to claim the 800m, 1,500m and 5,000m world titles.

Terezinha Guilhermina

Brazil’s visually impaired athlete left Christchurch with four gold medals including the 100m, 200m, 400m, and Women’s 4x100m T11-13 relay. In addition she broke her own 100m World record and smashed the 10 year old 200m World record.

Michelle Stilwell

Of Canada’s four gold medals in Christchurch, three of them were won by Michelle Stilwell. The T52 athlete set Championship records to win the 100m, 200m and 400m and also won silver in the 800m.

Tatyana McFadden

With four gold medals in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m, as well as bronze in the 100m, and two Championship records, the US T54 athlete finished in Christchurch as one of the top individual performers

Jerome Singleton

The US athlete will go down in history as the first man in seven years to inflict defeat on South African Oscar Pistorius over 100m. No-one will forget the epic 100m final nor should they forget the silver medals he won in the 200m or Men’s 4x100m relay T42-46.

Henrieta Farkasova

Slovakian Alpine Skier Henrieta Farkasova was the most successful female athlete at the 2011 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Sestriere, Italy, claiming four gold medals and one bronze medal.

Jon Santacana

Spaniard Jon Santacana and his guide Miguel Galindo were hard to beat in Sestriere, claiming three gold medals and two silver medals.

Vincent Gauthier-Manuel

Four gold medals and two solver medals made French Alpine Skiier Vincent Gauthier-Manuel the top medalist at the 2011 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Sestriere, Italy.

The 2010 “Athletes of the Month” were as follows:

January: Alexi Salamone, Ice Sledge Hockey

February: Mariann Marthinsen, Cross-Country Skiing

March: Canadian Wheelchair Curling Team

April: Sinisa Vidic, Shooting

May: Katrin Green, Athletics

June: Padraic Moran, Boccia

July: Chinese Women's Sitting Volleyball Team

August: Daniel Dias, Swimming

September: US Wheelchair Rugby Team

October: Katrina Hart, Athletics

November: Anna Schaffelhuber, Alpine Skiing

December: Shingo Kunieda, Wheelchair Tennis

To cast your vote for the IPC 'Athlete of the Month' please follow us on www.facebook.com/ParalympicSport.TV

The deadline for votes is Sunday 6 February.