The list is, predictably, dominated by medallists from the IPC Athletics World Championships, which concluded in Christchurch on Sunday (January 31).

Weir was one of the leading stars of the Championships, winning three gold medals in the 800 metres, 1500m and 5,000m.

Other Christchurch champions shortlisted are Brazil's  visually impaired sprinterTerezinha Guilhermina, winner of four gold medals, including breaking the 10-year-old world record in the 200m, and Michelle Stilwell, who won three of Canada's four gold medals in the T52 cateogry, completing the 100m, 200m and 400m treble and also finishing second in the 800m.

Two Americans are also shortlisted.

Tatyana McFadden (pictured) was one of the biggest stars of the Champiosnhips as she claimed gold medals in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m and bronze in the 100m in the T54 section.



Jerome Singleton earned probably the most publicity during the Championships after he became the first person to beat South Africa's Oscar Pistorius in the 100m for seven years.

He also won silver medals in the 200m and 4x100m relay.

The shortlist is completed by athletes who made their mark in the other major event of January, the IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Sestriere

Slovakian Henrieta Farkasova was the most successful female athlete at the Championships, claiming four gold medals and one bronze medal.

Spaniard Yon Santacana and his guide Miguel Galindo were hard to beat in Sestriere, claiming three gold medals and two silver medals while France's Vincent Gauthier-Manuel picked-up four gold and two silver, making him the most successful male skier.

All members of the public are invited to vote for which athlete they want to win by clicking here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2011: Hat-trick for Weir as he races to third World Championship gold medal
January 2011: Weir continues stunning form with second gold of World Championships
January 2011:·Wonderful Weir holds off Hug to claim stunning World Championships gold medal
January 2011: "I always do well on the world stage" claims confident Weir as he shrugs off injury
January 2011: Weir aims to "put down a marker" as British contingent departs for World