The Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) annually honour the best athlete for her or his outstanding sporting achievements throughout the previous 12 months.

The award was named after the APC Founding President, the driving force behind the development of the Paralympic Movement in the Americas for 20 years.

Athletics is represented by Colombia's Erica Castaño, who claimed her maiden major international title at the Dubai 2019 World Championships, winning the women's discus throw F55 with a personal best 23.97 metres.

Also, Chile's Francisca Mardones sealed an emotional gold medal at Dubai 2019 days after her father died, also achieving the world record in women's shot put F54 (8.19m).

Cuban Omara Durand extended her four-year winning streak, claiming a hat-trick of titles in the women’s 100m, 200m and 400m T12, both at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games and Dubai 2019.

Rounding off the athletics nominations is Petrúcio Ferreira of Brazil, who became the world's fastest Paralympian ever by breaking the men's 100m T47 world record in a time of 10.42, setting the fastest mark ever at a World Para Athletics Championships, in Dubai.

Angelica Espinoza of Peru is flying the flag for taekwondo, after winning the women's up to 49kg at the Parapan American Games, while swimming is represented by Mexico’s Diego López, whose incredible medal haul totalled five golds at the Parapan American Games and four golds at the London World Championships.

Wheelchair tennis player Gustavo Fernández of Argentina won five singles titles in 2019, along with two golds at the Parapan American Games, with Lima also a successful hunting ground for powerlifter Herbert Aceituno - the El Salvadoran claimed his country's first Parapan American gold in 20 years, in the up to 65kg, and was voted best male athlete.

Completing the nominations are American Oksana Masters, who dominated Nordic skiing and also excelled at the Para Cycling Road World Championships, and badminton star Raúl Anguiano, who became a celebrity in his country overnight by winning Guatemala's first Parapan American title ever in singles SL4.

Mexican powerlifter Jose de Jesus Castillo Castillo was the winner of the first two editions in 2017 and 2018

The public can now vote for their favourite on the Americas Paralympic Committee homepage until February 4.