Tustain (centre) is hoping to repeat her feats in Athens next September

The double gold medallist at the Sydney Games is on a shortlist of six athletes for the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability honour.

Tustain's rivals for the award include South African swimmer Natalie du Toit and Canadian sprinter Earle Connor.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony at Estoril in Portugal on 10 May.

Other nominees up for various awards are Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, England rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson and England's rugby World Cup winning team.

Laureus Disability Award nominees Earle Connor (Canada) Natalie du Toit (SA) Vitalis Lanshima (Nigeria) Ronnie Persson (Norway) Michael Teuber (Germany) Nicola Tustain (GB)

Nicola, from Denbighshire, was a member of the British team that struck gold at the Sydney Paralympics and also won individual gold and bronze medals.

She also won two individual golds and a team gold at the World Dressage Championships in Belgium last year.

Nicola is on a shortlist of 10 riders battling out for seven places in the equestrian squad to represent Great Britain at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games (17 to 28 September).

Britain dominated the equestrian competition at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics with five gold medals and two bronzes.

Great Britain also finished second in the overall medals table with a haul of 41 gold medals, 43 silvers and 47 bronzes - which was only bettered by the host nation.