The 19-year-old from Cambridge, who lost his right leg below the knee after contracting meningococcal septicaemia at the age of five, showed that he could rival the likes of South Africa's Oscar Pistorius and America's Jerome Singleton at London 2012 after running 10.85sec at the United States track and field Paralympic trials after being invited to compete there as a guest.

Peacock (pictured above, right) admitted he was absolutely delighted with the world record even if he did surprise himself with the blistering time.

"When I first started running I hated saying my PB was 12-something," he said.

"It was better when it was 11-something, but now I'm delighted it's 10-something.

"I've gone almost a full second quicker in 12 months, from running 11.63 at the World Championships in January last year to 10.85.

"I really couldn't wish for a better start to my career.

"My PB last year was 11.47 and less than 48 hours ago it was 11.24.

"Now it's 10.85 and I'm not stopping there.

"I'm so excited now to just keep on racing and push the boundaries of what an amputee can do.

"I'm still nervous about selection for the Paralympic Games, but hopefully I'll get picked."


Peacock is joined on the seven-athlete shortlist for the award by his compatriot Richard Whitehead (pictured above), who set a world record time of 24.93 in the 200m T42 sprint at the IPC Athletics European Championships to take the gold.

Next on the list is America's swimming sensation Jessica Long who once again showed her class as she smashed an astonishing five world records at the US Paralympics swimming trials en route to qualifying for London 2012.

Marlou van Rhijn of the Netherlands makes the list after the Dutch double-amputee sprinted to gold in both the 100m and 200m T44 events at the IPC Athletics European Championships, while another of the standout performers at the event, Birgit Kober, also features after the German took gold in both the javelin F52/53/33/34 and shot put F34, setting a shot put world record in the process with a throw of 10.06m.

Evgenii Shvetcov of Russia is the penultimate nomination after he won gold in the 100m, 400m and 800m T36 events at the IPC Athletics European Championships, breaking the 800m world record in the heats and then again in the final.

Wheelchair tennis star Stéphane Houdet of France completes the list after he won the men's singles competition at Roland Garros in Paris to move to top spot in the ITF's world rankings.

The public can now has until 12:00 (CEST) on July 9 to vote for the winner via the poll here.

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July 2012: British star Peacock takes Pistorius crown to send powerful London 2012 warning
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