Alexa Leary
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | 18 August 2001 (age 23) | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Paralympic swimming | |||||||||||||||||
| Disability class | S9 | |||||||||||||||||
| Club | St Hilda's, Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Jon Bell | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Alexa Leary (born 18 August 2001) is an Australian Paralympic swimmer. She won a gold medal and silver medal at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships.
Personal life
Leary was born on 18 August 2001. She grew up on the Gold Coast and at the age 7 to 8, her family moved to Yamba, New South Wales. Her family moved to Noosa where her triathlon coach was based.[1] On 17 July 2021, Leary suffered life-changing brain injuries as a result of serious cycling accident at Pomona, Queensland Sunshine Coast.[2] Whilst riding her bike in training for triathlons,her front wheel clipped the bike in front at 70 km/hr and landed on her head resulting major brain damage, blood clots and several broken bones.[3] She spent 111 days in hospital.[3][2] She attended Good Shepherd Lutheran College.[3] Her parents are Russ and Belinda Leary and has two sisters – Madison and Ashtyn and brother Max.[4]
Whilst in hospital, a fund raising campaign called 'moveforlex' raised over $130,000 for enhanced care at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Neurosurgery Ward with a focus on equipment and family support.[3]
Triathlon career
Leary won the silver medal at in the Women's Under 18–19 at World Triathlon Grand Final in Lausanne, Switzerland before her training accident.[5]
Swimming career
Her triathlon training incorporated swimming. After her training accident, she was classified as an S9 swimmer. At the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships, Manchester, she won a gold medal in the Women's 100 m Freestyle S9 just outside the world record and a silver medal in the Women's 50 m Freestyle S9.[6]
References
- ^ "The Road To Recovery – Alexa Leary". Bindi Nutrition. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ a b Trajkovich, Marina (4 November 2021). "Sunshine Coast triathlete Alexa Leary returns home after life-changing brain injury". 9News. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d Hall, Peter (4 November 2021). "'This is unbelievable': after 111 days in hospital Lex returns home to continue brave fightback". Sunshine Coast News. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Decent, Tom (21 April 2023). "'They call me a miracle': Alexa cheated death. Now she's on the Australian swim team". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Alexa Leary". World Triathlon. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Results – 2023 World Para Swimming Championships". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 5 August 2023.