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Back To NewsAustralia’s win in the mixed 4×100 metres medley relay 34 points wasn’t supposed to happen. It looked even less likely when the powerful Netherlands team raced away to a seven-second lead when Alexa Leary dived in to anchor the Australians.
“They were a bit in front and I thought, ‘I’ve got to chase these people. We’re the best team ever and we’re going to win this shit’,” Leary told Nine.
“I knew they were in front of me, so I was going to get them, we had to. We’re a strong team. All of us did our best and I loved it.”
Heat swimmers Keira Stephens and Callum Simpson set the platform early to draw lane five, before Jesse Aungles, Tim Hodge, Emily Beecroft and Leary swam a Paralympic record time of 4:27.08 to win gold.
Hodge, who swam second, said: “It’s an honour to be part of the team. We gave it everything we’ve got and we’re confident we can say we left everything in the pool and it’s just an incredible feeling and reward for all our efforts over the past several years.”
Beecroft added: “Honestly, I was not expecting to win, it was just unbelievable. As soon as I touched the wall I literally jumped out and raced over to Jesse so we could cheer Lex to the finish. Honestly, that was just unbelievable, I have no words.”
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By: David Sygall
Published: 27 December 2024
