The 21-year-old Johan Cruyff University student, nicknamed "Blade Babe", took nearly five seconds off the previous world record in Emmeloord, finishing in 64.95sec to ensure that she now holds the T43 100m, 200m and 400m world records.

Van Rhijn faces tough competition in a month which saw multiple high-profile Paralympic championships, including the German International swimming Championships, the IPC Shooting World Cup and the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Grand Prix.

Other world record breakers from May also feature on the shortlist, including swimmer Andre Brasil of Brazil, who set a new mark in the men's 50m backstroke in Berlin, and Iraqi powerlifter Faris Al-Ajeeli, who lifted 240kg to set a new standard in the +107 kilogram category at the IPC Powerlifting Open European Championships in Aleksin.

Brazilian Paralympic champion Andre Brasil is nominated for IPC Athlete of the Month after breaking the 50m backstroke world record in May

Fellow powerlifter, Paralympic gold medallist Souhad Ghazouani of France, is also shortlisted after her impressive 150kg lift in the women's -73kg which saw her take gold at the European Championships.

Macedonian shooter Olivera Nakovska-Bikova and Italian wheelchair fencer Beatrice Vio complete the shortlist after they took wins at the IPC Shooting World Cup in Turkey and at the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Grand Prix in Italy respectively.

You can vote for which athlete you think should be named as the IPC Athlete of the Month by clicking here.

Voting is due to close on June 11.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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