Perkins took his fifth world title with victory in the TRI-2 category at the 2010 ITU Paratriathlon World Championship in Budapest and was the TRI-2 runner-up at the 2010 Accenture USA Paratriathlon National Championship in New York City.

Stockwell, a 2008 Paralympic swimmer for the United States in Beijing, was the top women's TRI-2 finisher at the 2010 ITU Paratriathlon World Championship to claim her first world title.

She was also second in the category at the US championship.

"Our two USA Paratriathletes of the Year, both above the knee amputees, had incredible seasons in 2010," said Jon Beeson, chair of the USA Triathlon Paratriathlon Committee, which decided the awards.

"Former Second Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell, who lost her leg in combat while serving with the US Army in Iraq in 2004, won the ITU Paratriathlon World Championship in Budapest on her first try.

"Also a member of the Challenged Athletes Foundation's Operation Rebound programme, Melissa (pictured) was awarded the bronze star for her service - it was an honour to have her on the team."

Beeson added: "The redoubtable Matt Perkins won his fifth consecutive ITU World Championship in amazing fashion.

"He came from nearly two minutes back out of T2 and passed four competitors on the 5k run, including David Peiffer of France, the man who beat him a month before at the ITU World Championship Series Paratriathlon race in London.

"Matt always shows up ready for the big races."

JP Theberge and Craig Voghtsberger, silver medallists at the ITU Paratriathlon World Championship, received honourable mention accolades, as did Robin Caruso and Carly Waugh for the women.