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Neil Fachie Voted IPC's 'Athlete of the Month' March 2011

Posted: 8th April 2011

Neil Fachie of Great Britain has been voted by the public as the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) 'Athlete of the Month' for March 2011.

The visually impaired cyclist won two gold medals at the 2011 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Montichiari, Italy, in early March.

Fachie, who turned 27 during the World Championships, won the Tandem B 1000m Time Trial on the opening day of the Championships on 11 March with his tandem pilot Craig Maclean. He won his second World Championships title just two days later in the Tandem B Sprint.

While competing in Athletics at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games and finishing 10th on the 100m, Fachie switched to Para-Cycling in 2009 and instantly won two World Championships titles in Manchester that year. He is now setting his goals for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, where he wants to win a gold medal.

Neil Fachie was voted March's IPC `Athlete of the Month' following a poll on the IPC's official Facebook page www.facebook.com/paralympicsport.tv receiving 44% of all votes.

Along with Fachie four other athletes were shortlisted for the IPC `Athlete of the Month'.

They were:
Melissa Tapper (AUS)
The Australian Table Tennis player won two major events in March and is currently ranked 8 in the women class 10 ITTF world rankings.

Sarah Storey (GBR)
The two-times Paralympic Champion dominated the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Montichiari, Italty, winning two gold medals in the women's C5 class time trial and pursuit.

Canadian Wheelchair Curling Team
Team Canada with skip Jim Armstrong defended their title at the 2011 World Wheelchair Curling Championships in Prague, Czech Republic.

Sydwell Mathonsi (RSA)
Ranked 36 in the ITF world rankings, the South African Wheelchair Tennis player won the 2011 Sri Lankan Open.

The 'Athlete of the Month' award recognizes sporting excellence achieved by an individual athlete or team in the respective month.

The 2011 'Athletes of the Month' are as follows:

January: Yon Santacana, Alpine Skiing
February: Team Italy, Ice Sledge Hockey