By David Gold

Esther Vergeer_of_the_NetherlandsOctober - The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has unveiled the shortlist for the best female athlete of August and September, with Paralympic stars Jacqueline Freney, Esther Vergeer and Sarah Storey among the front runners.

Freney was the most successful athlete of the London 2012 Paralympics, picking up a gold medal in each of the eight events she participated in, which also earned her the status of most successful Australian Paralympian of any Games in history.

Dutchwoman Vergeer, meanwhile, continued her remarkable nine-year unbeaten streak with a fourth successive Paralympic gold medal in the wheelchair tennis women's singles.

Her win over compatriot Aniek van Koot was her 470th straight singles victory in a row, and she also won doubles gold alongside Marjolein Buis.

Storey became Britain's most successful ever female Paralympian, overtaking Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson's 11 golds in London.

Sarah Storey_of_Great_BritainSarah Storey set a new world record in the women's individual C5 pursuit qualifying session at the Velodrome during the London 2012 Paralympic Games

She won two track cycling gold medals before going on to win another pair of titles in the road cycling, as the C5 rider enjoyed a superb Games.

Sophie Christiansen was another Briton enjoying competing at home, as she led Britain to team gold in the equestrian by taking an individual freestyle grade 1a gold medal.

The list is completed by Hong Kong wheelchair fencer Yu Chui Yee, who won gold in the women's individual epee and foil category A events, making her the leading fencer at London 2012.

American Muffy Davis also won gold in each of her three races in the cycling, taking the individual time trial and road race H1-2 gold medals, as well as winning the team relay with Oscar Sanchez and Matthew Updike.

It was also the first Summer Games for Davis, who has won four skiing medals at the Winter Paralympics previously.

Yu Chui_Yee_of_Hong_Kong__Zhang_Chuncui_of_ChinaYu Chui Yee is also in the running for the IPC Female Athlete of the Month title

The August and September awards have been combined, with individual awards for men, women and a team, rather than the usual system, to mark the achievements of this summer's Paralympians.

The public can vote for the winner at www.paralympicorg, up until midday on October 12, and the nominations came from National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) and International Sport Federations (ISFs) who participated at London 2012.

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