Powerlifter Zoe Newson Voted IPC Athlete of the Month

British powerlifter and DSA member Zoe Newson has been voted the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Athlete of the Month for June.

The 19 year old claimed nearly half (48%) of the public’s vote in a poll on the IPC’s official Facebook page, www.facebook.com/paralympicsporttv, to win the prestigious title.

Newson was shortlisted for the award after lifting 85.5kg, almost three times here body weight, in the 40kg category at the IPC Powerlifting British Championships on 4 June to set a new European record.

The Suffolk Spartans powerlifter only entered her first IPC competition in January 2008 and came second with a lift of 47.5kg.

Since then she has taken part in the 2009 Dwarf Games, represented Great Britain at the IWAS World Games and won the junior world title at the 2010 IPC Powerlifting World Championships.

Last year she finished ranked fourth in the world at a senior level and is now setting her sights on winning a medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

To win the monthly award, Newson beat off stiff competition from two world record holders who were the early pace-setters in the Facebook poll.

Canada’s Michelle Stilwell finished second after smashing the 200m T52 world record, while Great Britain’s Dan Greaves, who broke his own F44 discus world record last month, came third.

Also shortlisted for June’s IPC’s Athlete of the Month were two Dutch tennis players. Maikel Sheffers claimed the Roland Garros title while compatriot Aniek van Koot claimed the BNP Paribas French Open. French para-cyclist Joël Jeannot was also nominated after winning the H3 Road Race and H3 Time Trial at the UCI Para-cycling World Cup event in Spain.

Previous IPC Athletes of the Month 2011
• January – Yon Santacana (Spain’s World Champion Alpine Skier)
• February – Italy’s IPC Ice Sledge Hockey European Champions
• March – Neil Fachie (Great Britain’s World Champion Track Cyclist)
• April – Mikhalina Lysova (Russia’s World Champion Biathlon and Cross Country Skier)
• May – Kristy Pond (Australia’s Gold medals winner in the Arafura Games – Athletics)