Nigel Murray claimed two gold medals at last month's Boccia European Continental Cup ©Getty Images

Great Britain’s Nigel Murray has been rewarded for his impressive performance at the 2015 Boccia European Continental Cup by being named the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Allianz Athlete of the Month for April.

Murray won all 11 of his matches as he helped Britain defeat Spain 10-1 in the BC1/BC2 team final, before overcoming compatriot Joshua Rowe 4-1 in the BC2 individual final.

The four-time Paralympic medallist is showing signs of returning to form ahead of Rio 2016 as he looks to add to the gold medals he won in the BC2 individual event at Sydney 2000 and the BC1/BC2 team event at Beijing 2008.

Murray, a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), confirmed last month that next year’s Paralympic Games will definitely be his last.

He had initially planned to retire after London 2012, where he won bronze in the BC1/BC2 team event, but after putting his plans on hold, Murray remodelled his game in 2013 by changing his wheelchair and his throwing style.

Nigel Murray had initially planned to retire after London 2012 but has confirmed Rio 2016 will definitely be his last Paralympic Games
Nigel Murray had initially planned to retire after London 2012 but has confirmed Rio 2016 will definitely be his last Paralympic Games ©Getty Images

The Englishman received 34 per cent of public votes and was followed in the pecking order by South Africa’s T13 sprinter Ilse Hayes, who became the world’s fastest Paralympic female, and Mexico’s record-setting 61 kilogram powerlifter Amalia Perez, both of whom garnered 24 per cent.

Also nominated in April's poll were swimmer Sophie Pascoe, who broke both the 100 metres freestyle and 100m butterfly marks in the women’s S10 at the Swimming New Zealand Open Championships, and the United States’ wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden, winner of both the Boston and London Marathon titles.

US Nordic skier Andrew Soule claimed the IPC Allianz Athlete of the Month prize in January, while Dutch snowboarder Chris Vos and Ukranian table tennis player Maksym Nikolenko took the accolade in February and March respectively.


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