The 30-year-old from New South Wales is a nominee for the award not for his usual road or track racing exploits but rather for taking to the water and excelling as part of the crew that won the prestigious 2011 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Fernley and his crew took over three days to secure victory in order to help raise money for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, a charity supported by the Loyal Foundation, which buys hospital equipment for children.

Fearnley is joined on the shortlist by New Zealand's Adam Hall who finished in first place on both days of the slalom standing competition at the Alpine Skiing NORAM Cup on Copper Mountain in Colorado.

Germany's Andrea Rothfuss is also up for the prize after winning on both days of the slalom standing competition at the IPC Alpine Skiing European Cup in Kuhtai, Austria.

Katarzyna Rogowiec of Poland is next up on the shortlist after recording three top finishes at the IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup in Sjusjøen, Norway; winning the titles in the 5 kilometre, 15km and sprint events in the LW2-9 standing category.


The final two names on the shortlist are Canadians Greg Westlake and Alexandra Starker (pictured).

Westlake recorded a hat-trick in the World Sledge Hockey Challenge finals to lead Canada to gold with a 4-1 victory over the United States, while Starker won both days of the giant slalom standing event at the Alpine Skiing NORAM Cup on Copper Mountain in Colorado, despite her tender age of 17.

The public has until midnight on January 7 to vote for whom they think had the best performance last month on the Paralympic sport scene.

Fans can vote on the IPC's Facebook page.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
December 2011: Fearnley to take part in Sydney to Hobart yacht race