The Paralympic bronze medallist was voted into the position during the IPC's Membership Gathering in the German capital Berlin, celebrating 25 years since the founding of the organisation.

"I am really honoured that our Athletes' Council elected me for vice-chair and that they trust me to fulfill this role the best I can," said Stinissem

"We have some great challenges ahead of us in the next few years, so I am glad I hereby can support our chairperson Todd [Nicholson] and with that represent all our athletes in the best way!"

Stinissen began competing in 2002 and was part of the bronze medal-winning Dutch team at Beijing 2008.

She competed at London 2012, where The Netherlands lost the bronze medal match to Ukraine.

After those Games, she founded Sport-Ability, an organisation dedicated to using sport to help people realise their potential.

The 35-year-old was elected a member of the IPC Athletes' Council - which is the collective voice of Paralympic athletes within the IPC and the Movement - at London 2012.

The vote in Berlin was held following the death in August of Council Member Jon McCullough.

He represented the United States on the seven-a-side football team at the Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

McCullough, who was elected to the Council in 2012, died of cancer.