Paula Tesoriero wins this year's Invacare Sport Perfomer of the Year Award

The 2009 Attitude Awards proved to be another successful and very inspirational night.

Now in its second year the Attitude Awards is held on December 3, coinciding with World Disability Day. The evening celebrates the outstanding achievements of New Zealanders living with a disability and has grown out of the Attitude TV series, which screens on TV ONE on Sundays.

Category winners for this year's Attitude Awards included Robbie Francis (Attitude ACC Supreme Award), Karen Michalanney (Spirit Award), Matthew Aitken (Courage in Sport Award), Glynne MacLean (Artistic Achievement Award), Julie Bartlett (Community Award), Blenheim Foods (ACC Employer Award), Robert Martin (Attitude Hall of Fame) and Mackenzie Kench (Person of the Year Award).

In particular, Invacare would like to congratulate Paula Tesoriero who won this year’s Invacare Sport Performer of the Year Award.

Paula Tesoriero created history when she returned home from Beijing with New Zealand’s first-ever gold medal in cycling at the Paralympics. Paula won gold in the 500m Time Trial in world record time. She also returned home with bronze in the 3000m Individual Pursuit and bronze in the Road Time Trial. In March and May 2009 she broke the world record for the 200m Flying Start, proving that she is the preeminent cyclist in her classification.

Paula is continuing her training after her Beijing success and aiming for more gold in London in 2012.

Says Invacare General Manager, Peter Ranyard, of the finalists: “These are some of the most active people you will ever find. With the silver fern on their chest, they represent us. They are New Zealander’s excelling on the world stage”.