The American tied South African champion Oscar Pistorius' world record of 10.91sec in the T43 100 metres at the Boiling Point Track Classic in Windsor, Canada, last month.

It means that the 22-year-old (pictured top, on left next to Pistorius) will be up there with compatriot Jerome Singleton and Britain's Jonnie Peacock as they look to take Pistorius' Paralympic title from him in London on September 6.

Leeper took 46 per cent of the vote, making him a resounding winner of the July award.

British equestrian rider Sophie Wells (pictured below) was second after she excelled at the Hartpury Festival of Dressage, dominating the top two spots in the grade IV.

Polish table tennis star Natalia Partyka, the other Paralympian along with Pistorius to take part in the Olympic Games too, was third.

She made it to the third round of the Olympic table tennis before losing to Jie Li of the Netherlands.


Others in contention for July's award were the Finnish men's goalball team, who won the Malmo InterCup against hosts Sweden.

The Australian men's wheelchair basketball team were undefeated at the World Challenge in Sydney and are favourites to retain their title in London.

Jiří Ježek of the Czech Republic won the overall UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup title in Baie-Comeau in Canada to put himself in the running for the award, whilst Dutch wheelchair tennis stars Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot were the other contenders after winning the doubles tournaments at both Wimbledon and the British Open.

Next month and September will see a combined three awards, with athletes honoured for the best performances by an individual male, female and a team respectively during the Paralympics.

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