The Colombian Paralympic Committee President ascended to the top job after four rounds of voting at the APC General Assembly in Lima.

He will serve a two-year term until 2021.

As well as Dussliere, Peruvian Paralympic Committee President Lucha Villar was also challenging for the role.

In round one of voting, held among the APC membership under a secret ballot, Avila received 12 votes with Dussliere gaining 11, Villar four and one rejected vote.

All three candidates moved on to round two but Villar was eliminated after receiving three votes, with Avila on 13 and Dussliere 12.

In round three Avila gained 14 votes and Dussliere 13, with one vote invalid.

The process ended in round four with the Colombian on 15 votes and the American 10, with three votes invalid.

"I am thrilled to have received the support of the APC membership, I am speechless and emotional," said Avila.

"I will work hard to strengthen the relationship between the APC, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the National Paralympic Committees, and look at ways to come together to make of the Americas a robust, developed and united region."

The voting was held in the build-up to the Parapan American Games in Lima, which begin in the Peruvian capital tomorrow.

Avila is the fifth person to become APC President after previously challenging in May of last year.

He was the sole candidate on that occasion but failed to secure the majority of the votes needed, meaning the President had to be selected from within the Executive Committee.

Dussliere was chosen but the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee's chief of Paralympic sport will bow out after just over a year.

"The main goal now is to deliver the best and biggest Parapan American Games in history here in Peru," said Avila.

"We are all excited about what Lima 2019 can bring and I believe it will be an outstanding event, the first of its kind held in Peru."

Argentina's Jose Luis Campo was elected founding APC President in 1997 and served two terms until 2005, when he was replaced by Brazil's Andrew Parsons, the current head of the IPC.

Colombia's Octavio Londono was President from 2009 to 2013 before Campo was elected again and served until 2017, when he was re-elected for a fourth term.

After Campo died in October 2017, Cuba's Eduardo Montenegro was appointed Interim President the following month.

Dussliere was then voted President in May 2018.