Great Britain's Patrick Mahoney has been voted the ICF 2011 Paracanoeist of the Year, he is the current World Champion in the V1 LTA category, a title he won in August at the 2011 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Szeged, Hungary.

The LTA category that Mahoney won is for paddlers with a disability who have functional use of their legs, trunk and arms for paddling, and who can apply force to to the foot board or seat to propel the boat.

In August, the ICF nominated  Mahoney, along with Sandor Szabo (HUN), Fernando Fernandes (BRA), Julian Serban (ROU), Christine Gauthier (CAN), Christine Sellinger (CAN), Katalin Kajdai (HUN) and Sandra Truccolo (ITA) for best Paracanoeist at Szeged 2011, the biggest event for paracanoeists this year. Voting was conducted on the ICF Facebook page and was based on their results and achievements at the Canoe Sprint World Championships in Szeged. This was the first time, the international media was invited to cast their vote.

Mahoney's introduction to canoeing started at the Outrigger Canoe Racing out on Hamilton Island, Australia in 1984, and he immediately fell in love with the sport. Since 2003 he has been a member of OCUK (Outrigger Canoe United Kingdom).

The most enjoyable aspect of my canoeing is that it's you versus Mother Nature and the elements

Mahoney said. “The passion for the sport within the club is infectious and as the only adaptive paddler I can't praise my fellow members and coach enough for all of their assistance, perseverance and the sharing of my passion with the sport.”

Many years of dedication and perseverance has paid of for Patrick Mahoney and he is right where he wants to be; he is a member of the GB Paracanoe squad and now a World Champion.

Asked what is next on his busy schedule Mahoney said,“With winter training schedules being put in place, the objective is to be in Poznan next year to defend my title. The Paralympic Games (Rio 2016)is not in the distant future, I want to be at my best and be there!

More about Patrick Mahoney: Winner of a Silver & Gold medal in the V1 500m & V12 500m Adaptive event at the 2006 IVF World Sprints held in New Zealand. He was also the V1 500m Adaptive event Silver medallist at the 2008 IVF World Sprints held in Sacramento, California. His athletic abilities are not limited to paddling alone as he has been a member of the GB Paralympic Rowing Team and trained for seat selection for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.