Zulfiya Gabidullina won the women's prize at the awards in Kazakhstan ©Getty Images

Paralympic champions Alexandr Kolyadin and Zulfiya Gabidullina of Kazakhstan have been recognised for their achievements in 2018 at the annual People's Favourite Awards in the country.

Kolyadin, who became the first Kazakh athlete to win gold at the Winter Paralympic Games when he triumphed in the 1.5 kilometres cross-country standing event in Pyeongchang last year, scooped the Best Male Athlete of the Year award.

Swimmer Gabidullina, who made history at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as she secured Kazakhstan's first gold medal having won the women's 100 metres freestyle S3 race, claimed the corresponding Best Female Athlete of the Year prize at the award ceremony.

The 53-year-old was nominated following her superb individual display at last year's Asian Para Games in Jakarta and Palembang, where she took home three medals in the pool.

Alexandr Kolyadin claimed the men's prize following his historic performance at last year's Winter Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang ©Getty Images
Alexandr Kolyadin claimed the men's prize following his historic performance at last year's Winter Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang ©Getty Images

She clinched gold in the women's 100m freestyle S4 category, silver in the 50m backstroke SB4 and bronze in the 200m S5 backstroke.

Kolyadin received the Best Male Athlete of the Year for his history-making gold medal at Pyeongchang 2018 and he will be hoping to continue that form when he competes at the Para Nordic World Championships in Canada next month.

The winners of the 27 awards on offer were chosen by online voting.