Select the Athlete of the Year 2012

 Danielle BROWN, Paralympic champion  
  World Archery launched a poll in December giving the archery fans the chance to vote for their favourite athlete of the year via a Facebook poll featuring a shortlist of 40 archers across all four categories.   The contest sees a tight race for the annual award following a series of outstanding performance at last year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.   Among those selected is the British athlete Danielle BROWN, the Paralympic champion from Beijing 2008 who successfully defended her title on home soil in London. Danielle BROWN went on to finish second at the World Cup Final last September, showing the world that archery is a sport which allows people with a disability to compete for the highest distinctions.   Michele FRANGILLI (left) claimed his first gold Olympic medal at London 2012 with Italian teammates Marco GALIAZZO (centre) and Mauro NESPOLI (right)Another archer who delivered an impressive performance is Italy’s Michele FRANGILLI, who was under the enormous pressure of scoring a 10 on his last arrow in the men’s team final in London. An Olympic bronze medallist from Atlanta 1996 and a silver medallist from Sydney 2000, FRANGILLI delivered a smooth 10 to win his first Olympic gold medal as part of the Italian team with Marco GALIAZZO and Mauro NESPOLI. Apart from Danielle BROWN and Michele FRANGILLI, our poll features 38 archers who have achieved outstanding performances on the world stage and at the London Olympic Games.    Last year, the public selected the American recurve ace Brady ELLISON, who was ranked No 1 in the world and won three consecutive World Cup stages (Porec, Antalya and Ogden) as well as the World Cup Final in 2011.    This year the 40 archers are divided between 4 polls that will remain open until January 15th. The 4 winners will then compete in a final poll to be held in late January. Everyone is welcome to place their votes on our Facebook page.   World Archery Communication