©Getty Images

Iran's powerlifter Siamand Rahman has been voted the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Allianz Athlete of the Month for July after polling 81 per cent of the vote. 

The 27-year-old Iranian Kurdish proved his status as the strongest Paralympian in the world after lifting 295 kilograms at the IPC Powerlifting Asian Open Championships in Almaty.

Rahman has now broken the men's over 107kg world record eight times in just 15 months, including three times each at the World Championships in April 2014 and last year's Asian Para Games in Incheon. 

He is now targeting the big lift of 300kg for Rio 2016, where he will be aiming to to add another gold medal to the one he won in the over 100kg category at London 2012.

Rahman started lifting in 2008 and made his international debut at the 2010 IPC Powerlifting World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, winning the silver medal.

A few months later, Rahman won the gold medal at the 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, China, and broke the world record again in the over 100 kg category with a lift of 290kg,, despite still being eligible for the junior category.

Iran's powerlifter Siamand Rahman is aiming to win his second Paralympic gold medal at Rio 2016 having won at London 2012
Iran's powerlifter Siamand Rahman will be aiming to win his second Paralympic gold medal at Rio 2016, where another target will be becoming the first powerlifter to break throught the 300 kilograms barrier ©Getty Images

Rahman is the first Asian winner this year of the IPC Allianz Athlete of the Month award and only the second non-European following American Nordic skier Andrew Soule in January. 

Brazil's Daniel Dias, winner of seven men's S5 and SB4 gold medals in as many days at the IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, finished second with eight per cent of the vote. 

Rwandan sitting volleyball player Lilian Mukobwankabo was third with five per cent and British wheelchair tennis player Jordanne Whiley fourth with four per cent. 

British sprinter Sophie Hahn, who broke her own women's 100 metres T38 world record at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final in London when she ran 13.00sec, got two per cent. 



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