It was always Alexa Leary’s dream to be an Olympian. In 2021, when she was 19, Alexa was a promising triathlete until a horrific cycling accident.
Crashing at 70 km/h, Alexa suffered major brain damage and traumatic abrasions and her parents prepared to say goodbye to her multiple times. Fortunately, they didn’t have to.
Alexa spent five months in hospital and then another three months in rehabilitation, learning to walk and talk again. Two years on from her accident, she represented Australia at the World Para Swimming Championships, winning gold.
In 2024, Alexa qualified for the Paris Paralympics, breaking the 100m freestyle S9 world record. In Paris, she broke her own record twice, winning two gold and one silver medal.
Through her MoveForLex Foundation, Alexa has raised $271,000 for the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, who saved her life, and was part of the WeCU program that raised money to renovate its ICU waiting room.