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‘Miracle’ Swimmer Bursts Onto The Scene With World Championships Gold

‘Miracle’ Swimmer Bursts Onto The Scene With World Championships Gold
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Just over two years on from an accident that nearly claimed her life, emerging star Alexa Leary has won a gold medal for Australia at the World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester.

Leary powered to victory in the Women’s 100m Freestyle S9 in 1:00.24, blitzing her competitors with a time just 0.04s outside New Zealand great Sophie Pascoe’s championship record.

“I’ve come so far,” said Leary, 21, a former triathlete who sustained severe head injuries in a high speed cycling crash in 2021.

“It’s a big thing for me that I’ve pushed through and done even better than what I was two years ago.

“Thank you so much for all the support. The reason I’m here is because, literally, most of the people around me, they always support me non-stop. My mum and dad, love them more than anything.

“I’m actually very proud. I’m like, ‘Yeah Lex, you’ve outdone yourself!’”

In an interview with Nine in April, Leary said of her accident: “Everyone said goodbye to me. They all thought I was going to pass away. That’s why they call me a miracle. They said I would never walk again and I would never talk again.”

Watch the World Para Swimming Championships live on 9Now.

Leary’s remarkable win was a highlight of Day 4, which also included a silver medal to the Mixed 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay S14 team of Jack Ireland, Madeleine McTernan, Ruby Storm and Ben Hance.

“It’s awesome to swim in a relay,” McTernan said. “It’s definitely a lot more fun having a team around you cheering you on than just being an individual when it’s all about you.”

Katja Dedekind captured bronze in the Women’s 100m Backstroke S13 in 1:06.98, her season’s best time. Dedekind said her focus was on further improving in the lead-up to the Paris Paralympics next year.

“Not the race I was hoping for,” she said. “But again, it is a practice run for next year and we’re learning what works and doesn’t work.”

In other results, Jenna Jones finished fifth in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB12, less than a second from bronze with a time of 1:22.91, Emily Beecroft came fourth in the Women’s 100m Freestyle S9 and Ella Jones came sixth in the Women’s 100m Freestyle S8.

Fresh from his first ever major championship gold medal, Ahmed Kelly finished seventh in the Men’s 50m Backstroke S3 with a time of 55.92 after swimming a personal best of 55.91 in the Heat.

Day 1 Wrap: Sprint King Crothers Fires First Shot For Australia 
Day 2 Wrap: Aussie Team Favourite Finally On Top Of The World
Day 3 Wrap: ‘Cobweb Swim’ Jags A Bonus Medal For Dedekind

By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 4 August 2023