Terezinha Guilhermina and Leomon Moreno have been voted Brazilian Paralympic Athletes of the Year, after excelling in athletics and goalball, respectively, in 2014. The duo were recognised at the Brazilian Paralympic Awards ceremony in Copacabana on Wednesday evening (10 December).

In the women’s category, Guilhermina beat off competition from Bruna Alexandre, who won a bronze medal at the table tennis world championships, and Márcia Menezes, the first Brazilian powerlifting world championship medallist.

Guilhermina, 36, has six Paralympic medals: three gold, one silver and two bronze. This year, she consolidated her position at the top of the world rankings in the T11 100m and 200m events, winning six gold medals – two each at the Dubai Grand Prix, Berlin Open and São Paulo Open.

“I’m very happy with my performances in 2014, when I was unbeaten again, and it’s great to be recognised by the public,” said Guilhermina. “This award gives me a feeling that I want to have more of, and creates even more motivation for the Rio 2016 Games. I want to run even faster in 2015.”

In the men’s category, Leomon Moreno was shortlisted along with swimmer Daniel Dias, a 15-time Paralympic Games medallist, and 5-a-side footballer Ricardinho, who top-scored as Brazil won their fourth title.

Moreno poses with the Brazilian Paralympic Committee slogan 'move the impossible' (Photo: Marcelo Régua/CPB/MPIX)

Moreno, 21, already had a Paralympic Games silver medal from London 2012 and this season he was one of the stars as Brazil won its first goalball world title, scoring 51 goals in 10 matches.

“It was surprising that I got more votes than two stars like Daniel and Ricardinho,” said Moreno. “I’m pleased about the award, but the chance to promote goalball satisfies me more than individual recognition.”

Rafael Silva, who won a junior powerlifting world title, was voted Revelation of the Year, while top performers in 22 Paralympic sports also received recognition for their achievements (see list below). Luiz Carlos Araújo (boccia) and Alessandro Tosin (goalball) won the coach of the year awards in the individual and team sports categories, respectively.

Best of 2014:

Athletics:  Claudiney Santos

Wheelchair basketball:  Leandro de Miranda

Boccia:  Maciel Santos

Wheelchair fencing:  Jovane Guissone

Football 5-a-side:  Ricardinho

Football 7-a-side:  Jan Francisco

Goalball:  Leomon Moreno

Powerlifting:  Márcia Menezes

Equestrian:  Sérgio Oliva

Judo:  Williams Araújo

Swimming:  Daniel Dias

Paracanoe:  Luis Carlos Cardoso da Silva

Para-cycling:  Soelito Gohr

Paratriathlon:  Jorge Fonseca

Rowing:  Josiane Lima

Wheelchair rugby:  Alexandre Taniguchi

Table tennis:  Bruna Alexandre

Wheelchair tennis:  Daniel Rodrigues

Archery:  Andrey Muniz

Shooting:  Débora Campos

Sailing:  Mário Czascke

Sitting volleyball:  Renato Leite

Revelation of the Year:  Rafael da Silva (powerlifting)

Best coach – Individual sports:  Luiz Carlos Araújo (boccia)

Best coach – Team sports:  Alessandro Tosin (goalball)