Canada’s Priscilla Gagne has been nominated for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Allianz Athlete of the Month for May and the public can now vote for the winner on www.paralympic.org.
 
Gagne was shortlisted following her impressive home performance at the 2018 IBSA Judo Pan-American Championships in Calgary on 20 May.
 
The Canadian won three of her bouts by ippon on the way to gold in the women’s -52kg.
 
The other nominees are:
 
Mariana Shevchuk, Ukraine, powerlifting
 
Made history at the European Open Championships by lifting an unprecedented 130.5kg to set a new world record in the women’s up to 55kg.
 
Peter Genyn, Belgium, athletics
 
Set two world records at the Nottwil Grand Prix; the first of 20.07 in the men´s 100m T51 and the second of 1:17.21 in the 400m T51.
 
Rodolpho Riskalla, Brazil, equestrian
 
Took the top spot in two out of the three tests he rode in (the team test and individual), and third place in the freestyle, at the Maimarkt competition in Mannheim, Germany.
 
Sareh Javanmardi, Iran, shooting
 
Double Paralympic champion added two world titles to her collection at Cheongju 2018, overcoming a penalty deduction to win the P2 (women’s 10m air pistol SH1), and beating an otherwise all-male field to take gold in the P4 (mixed 50m pistol SH2).
 
The public has until 12:00 (CEST) on Friday (8 June) to vote for the athlete they want to be the Allianz Athlete of the Month for May 2018 via the International Paralympic Committee homepage.
 
The nominations are compiled from submissions by National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) and International Federations (IFs).
 
The 2018 winners are:
 
January – Oksana Masters, USA, Nordic skiing
 
February – Mac Marcoux, CAN, alpine skiing
 
March (Best Male) – Brian McKeever, CAN, Nordic skiing
 
March (Best Female) – Ekaterina Rumyantseva, NPA, Nordic skiing
 
March (Best Team) – Chinese wheelchair curling team

Image credit: Rafal Burza