Martins named Americas Athlete of the Month
Daniel Martins has been chosen as Americas ‘Athlete of the Month’ for April by the International Paralympic Committee after receiving 49 per cent of a public vote.
The Brazilian runner rounded off action at the Sao Paulo World Para Athletics Grand Prix smashing his own men’s 400m T20 world record, showing great form ahead of this year’s Parapan American Games and World Championships.
Since making his international debut at the 2015 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games in Ecuador, Martins has gone on to conquer the world. In 2016 he won gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and in 2017 he claimed his first world title.
Despite receiving massive support from Argentina, swimmer Daniela Gimenez had to settle for the second place this time with 39 per cent of the votes.
Colombian shooting Para sport athlete Maria Teresa Restrepo, Chilean powerlifter Marion Serrano and US wheelchair racer Daniel Romanchuk were also nominated.
The nominations were compiled from submissions by National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) from across the continent and covered all impairments.
The 2019 Americas Athlete of the Month winners are:
- January – Johanna Sossa and Johana Martinez, Colombia, wheelchair tennis
- February – Rebeca Valenzuela Alvarez, Mexico, athletics
- March – Matias Pino, Chile, table tennis
- April – Daniel Martins, Brazil, athletics
