By Gary Anderson

March 16 - A shortlist of four men and four women has been published for the "Best of US" award at this month's Sochi 2014 Paralympics, in a new initiative launched by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) that also recognises the team and moment of the Games.

A Nominating Committee, comprised of USOC, athlete and media representatives, selected the finalists for the individual athlete and team categories, as well as the moment of the Games, based on nominations from each national governing body.

Alpine skier Mark Bathum, ice sledge hockey player Declan Farmer, Nordic skier Andy Soule and snowboarder Evan Strong have been shortlisted for the male Paralympian award, while Alpine skiers Stephanie Jallen and Laurie Stephens join Nordic skiers Oksana Masters and Tatyana McFadden on the female shortlist.

Bathum and guide Cade Yamamoto claimed silver medals in the visually impaired super-G and super combined events, while Strong took one of only two gold medals for the US at the Games, when he claimed victory in the snowboard cross event.

While Soule failed to medal, he makes the list for his consistent performances in Sochi which saw him finish inside the top-five in each of the five biathlon and cross-country events he competed in.

Rising ice sledge hockey star Farmer, 16, scored three goals and had two assists during his side's run to the Paralympic final, where they defeated hosts Russia.

Farmer's tally included two goals against arch rivals Canada in the semi-final.

Paralympic debutant Stephanie Jallen is up for the female athlete of the Games award ©Getty Images



On the women's side, the all-conquering McFadden marked her Winter Paralympics debut with a silver medal in the women's one kilometre cross-country sprint event, while Masters added to her Paralympic medal haul with silver in the 12km sitting event and a bronze in the 5km cross-country sitting competition.

Jallen also marked her first appearance at a Paralympics with two bronze medals in the women's Alpine skiing super-G standing and super combined standing competitions and was matched by Laurie Stephens, who finished on the third step of the podium in the downhill sitting and super-G sitting events.

Not surprisingly, the victorious US ice sledge hockey players lead the way in the team award after they clinched their third Paralympic title in Sochi.

The wheelchair curling team have also been nominated after victories over China, Finland, Sweden and Norway saw them finishing fifth overall, while the final team slot goes to the Nordic mixed relay team of McFadden and visually impaired skier Jake Adicoff, along with his guide Reid Pletcher, who placed sixth in the final standings in Sochi.

The shortlist for the moment of the Games includes the win for the ice sledge hockey team, a US clean-sweep of medals in the snowboard cross event for Strong, Mike Shea and Keith Gabel, while a 50 from 50 record with the rifle has Soule on the list.

Back-to-back Paralympic champions the US ice sledge hockey players lead the way in the team award ©Getty Images



Masters' silver in the 12km cross-country sitting event saw her become the first US female to win a cross-country Paralympic medal in 20 years and the shortlist of five is completed by Jallen's performance in her first ever Paralympic race when she claimed the bronze medal.

Fans have from today until Friday (March 21) to vote for their favourites in each category and can make their choice by visiting the US Paralympics Facebook page.

USOC is running a similar campaign for the Olympic Games, while there are also awards for the Team Behind the Team and Fan of the Games.

Team USA fans can submit nominations for the Fan of the Games Award via video or photo on the Team USA Facebook page.

The 10 awards will be announced during the Best of US Awards Show, due to air on April 7 on NBCSN.

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