The United States won 18 medals at Sochi 2014, including two gold, seven silver and nine bronze.

Four of those medallists - Mark Bathum, Declan Farmer, Mike Shea and Evan Strong join runner Raymond Martin - in the Best Male Athlete with a Disability category.

Strong became the first-ever gold medal winner in men's snowboard cross at a Paralympics, while also claiming a national title, along with International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Alpine Skiing Para-Snowboard World Cup wins in La Molina and Copper Mountain.

Shea finished behind his compatriot in the silver medal position in Sochi but was crowned the overall World Cup champion after picking up four wins on the circuit.

Sixteen-year-old Farmer bagged three goals and two assists on the way to helping the US claim the ice sledge hockey gold medal at the Shayba Arena, while Alpine skier Bathum won two silver medals at the Games in the visually impaired super-G and super combined events.

Declan Farmer starred for the United States on their way to ice sledge hockey gold at Sochi 2014 ©Getty Images



Martin completed a remarkable double in the past year as he followed up his five wins at the US National Championships in Texas by repeating his performance at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon.

Martin took gold in the T52 100 metres, 200m, 400m, 800 and 1500m, becoming the first man to win five gold medals at a World Championships.

Tatyana McFadden completed a stunning 12 months by securing her first Paralympic Winter Games medal in the 1km cross-country sprint event, taking silver.

The 25-year-old heads the list of athletes in the Female Athlete with a Disability category that includes Oksana Masters, Laurie Stephens, Minda Dentler and Jamie Whitmore.

McFadden's incredible run of success started at the IPC Athletics World Championships, where she went one better than Martin by claiming a remarkable six world titles in the T54 category, including the 100m, 200m 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5,000m.

She then turned her attention to the road where she became the first athlete in history to complete the marathon Grand Slam following victories in London, Boston, Chicago and New York City.

McFadden has already defended her titles at the London and Boston marathons in April.

Tatyana McFadden transferred her remarkable form on the track and road to the snow in Sochi to claim a silver medal ©Getty Images



London 2012 bronze medal winning rower Masters secured a first women's Paralympic cross-country medal in 20 years for the US when she took silver in the 12 kilometre sitting event in Sochi and followed that up with a bronze in the 5km race.

Stephens finished second overall in the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup standings before claiming silver and bronze in the super-G and downhill events at Sochi 2014.

Cyclist Whitmore set world records in the time trial and pursuit disciplines on her way to taking gold at the International Cycling Union (UCI) Para-cycling Track World Championships in Mexico earlier this year, while she also completed a double at the 2013 Road World Championships in Baie-Comeau, Canada, taking the time trial and road race titles.

Former Para-triathlon national champion Dentler became the first female handcyclist to complete the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, last year while she also won the handcycle division of the New York City Marathon.

The Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards are now in their 22nd year and there are 33 categories in total.

The public have until 9pm EST on July 16 to vote for their favourite athletes.

Click here to register your vote.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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