October 1 - The public are to be given the opportunity by the International Paralympic Committee for the first time to vote for its Athlete of the Month award with the candidates including Switzerland's Ursula Schwaller (pictured), winner of the last Berlin Marathon.


The stunning victory in the German capital cemented the position of the Swiss hand cyclist as the top ranked female athlete in the UCI rankings.

But Schwaller faces stiff competition from a number of other outstanding contenders on the short-list for September, including fellow hand cyclist Vittorio Podesta, an Italian who claimed first place in the MH2 time-trial at the International Para-Cycling EHC Finals in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg by nearly 22 seconds.

Another candidate is Canada's Paul Tingley, who came from second on the final day of the the 2.4m World Championship Sailing in Hoorn, the Netherlands, to claim victory.

Dutch pair Maikel Scheffers and Ronald Vink are also contenders.

They did not drop a game as they rallied to a 6-0, 6-0 victory over France's Nicolas Pfeifer and America's Jon Ryberg in the US Open Tennis Wheelchair Men’s Doubles Final.

There is also sure to be support for the United States wheelchair rugby team, who beat Australia in the final of the World Wheelchair Rugby Championships in Richmond and who complete the short-list.

Voters have until Wednesday (October 6) to cast their vote via the ParalympicSport.TV facebook page.

To vote in the poll click here.