The 23-year-old double Paralympic silver medallist was in scintillating form at the World Championships, winning five individual gold medals in the S3 classification and a further two gold medals in team events, setting three world records and four European records on her way.

She is joined on the shortlist by another athlete that made her mark in Montreal, New Zealand's Sophie Pascoe, who won gold medals in all five of her events in the S10 and SB9 categories to add to the six gold and four silver Paralympic medals she already has to her name at the age of 19.

The final swimmer on the shortlist is 14-year-old Australian Maddison Elliott, who stormed to World Championship gold in both the women's 50m and 100m freestyle S8 races, defeating twelve-time Paralympic gold medallist Jessica Long in the latter.

Elliott looks set for a bright future in the sport after she won a silver and two individual bronze medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, becoming the youngest Australian Paralympic medallist of all-time, before going on to also become the youngest gold medallist of all time as part of the triumphant women's 4x100m relay 34 points team.

With plenty of other Paralympic athletes impressing on the continental stage last month, the swimmers will face strong competition for the crown.

Great Britain's five-time Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Christiansen is a nominee for the IPC Athlete of the Month award after she bagged three Para-Dressage European titles in August

Great Britain's five-time Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Christiansen is in contention for the award after she completed a hat-trick of gold medals at the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) European Para-Dressage Championships in the Danish city of Herning, taking the gold medal in both the team and individual competitions, as well as the individual freestyle in the grade 1a class.

Romanian cyclist Carol-Eduard Novak took world titles in both the C4 road race and time trial at the International Cycling Union (UCI) Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Baie-Comeau, Canada to earn his place on the shortlist, whilst wheelchair fencer Yijun Chen of China is also nominated after contributing two gold medals to his nation's ten-gold-haul at the International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports (IWAS) Wheelchair Fencing World Championships in Budapest.

Australian rower Erik Horrie completes the shortlist, earning his nomination with a fine showing at the World Rowing Championships in the South Korean city of Chungju, where he won gold in the men's singles sculls in world record time.

Voting opens to the public today and will close next Monday (September 17) at midday Central European Summer Time (CEST).

Nominations are compiled from submissions by National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) and International Federations (IFs).

To vote for which athlete you think should be crowned IPC Athlete of the Month for August, click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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