Swimmer Maddison Elliott named female Paralympian of the year

STAR swimmer Maddison Elliott’s three gold medals at Rio was rewarded on Thursday when she was named female Paralympian of the year.

Maddison Elliott and Lakeisha Patterson show off their medals after the 50m freestyle.

STAR swimmer Maddison Elliott has joined dual-Rio gold medallist Dylan Alcott in claiming top honours at the Australian Paralympic Awards.

Elliott, 18, was crowned female Paralympian of the year in Sydney on Thursday after picking up three gold medals at the Rio Games in September. Para-tennis player Alcott has added Australian Paralympian and male Paralympian of the year honours to his growing list of 2016 accolades.

The Melburnian took gold in the quad singles in Rio, as well as quad doubles alongside Heath Davidson.

Alcott last month, he won the Newcombe Medal — the highest gong in Australian tennis — as well as being nominated for The Don award for the nation’s sportsperson of the year.

Veteran sailor Liesl Tesch was nother notable female winner on the night, chosen as the inaugural Spirit of the Games medal winner.

Elliott is congratulated by silver medallist Lakeisha Patterson after winning gold in the Women's 50m Freestyle in Rio. Pic: Buda Mendes/Getty Images

2016 AUSTRALIAN PARALYMPIC AWARD WINNERS

Australian Paralympian and male Paralympian of the year: Dylan Alcott

Female Paralympian of the year: Maddison Elliott

Paralympic rookie of the year: James Turner

Paralympic team of the year: Australian Paralympic sailing team

Coach of the year: Iryna Dvoskina

Uncle Kevin Coombs Medal for Spirit of the Games: Liesl Tesch

Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame inductees: Kevin Coombs, David Hall, Tracey Freeman, Daphne Hilton, Adrienne Smith, Ron Finneran.

Originally published as Swimmer Maddison Elliott named female Paralympian of the year