Kurt Fearnley is one of eight Para-athletics stars seeking election ©Getty Images

Australian athletics star Kurt Fearnley and British cyclist Dame Sarah Storey are among a record 22 athletes who are running for election for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletes’ Council at Rio 2016. 

Three-time Paralympic gold medallist Fearnley is one of eight contenders from athletics for the six summer sport representatives on the Council.

Others include Cape Verde's Marcio Fernandes, Switzerland’s Philipp Handler, China’s Yanzhang Wang and South Korea’s Suk Man Hong.

New Zealand’s Tim Prendergast, winner of the Paralympic T13 800 metres gold at Athens 2004, is also among the candidates from athletics, as well as Spain’s David Casinos and Germany’s Marc Schuh.

Dame Sarah, winner of 11-Paralympic gold medals in her glittering career, leads the candidates from cycling with the sport also represented by the United States’ Monica Bascio and South Africa’s Ernst Van Dyk.

Belgium’s Sven Decaesstecker, Hungary’s Ferenc Nandor Csuri and Canada’s Chelsey Gotell are three swimmers looking to be elected to the Council.

Beijing 2008 men’s doubles wheelchair tennis champion Michael Jeremiasz of France, Ireland’s Para-table tennis player Eimear Breathnach and Turkish archer Gizem Girismen are also among the candidates.

The full list is completed by Israeli rower Moran Samuel, Singapore boccia player Nurulasyiqah Mohammad Taha, Dutch sitting volleyball athlete Elvira Stinissen and powerlifters Lucy Ejike of Nigeria and Iran’s Siamand Rahman.

Britain's Dame Sarah Storey is one of three cyclists among the 22 candidates ©Getty Images
Britain's Dame Sarah Storey is one of three cyclists among the 22 candidates ©Getty Images

"I think the number of candidates is really great, we have a good spread of candidates from across the world and have a good number of women and men," IPC President Sir Philip Craven told insidethegames.

"It shows the interest generally in the [Paralympic] Movement.

"It also shows the interest of top athletes to put back into their sports and the Movement, a lot of which they have got out of it.

"That is something that has to happen in sport and we are very happy."

Campaign brochures providing more information on each candidate and further information about the elections are set to be published in the coming weeks.

The election is due to take place between September 5 and 16 in the Proud Paralympian area of the athletes'’ dining all in the Paralympic Village during Rio 2016. 

The IPC Electoral Commission will be chaired by Linda Mastandrea, with athletes encouraged to vote in the elections to ensure their voice is heard and their sport and region is represented.

Following the election, the successful candidates will act as a liaison between athletes and decision-makers and will influence how Paralympic sport and the Movement grow and develop.