Lex Leary and Dolphins receive Para Uplift funding ahead of World Championships

BARRIERS, what barriers?

World record holder Alexa Leary (pictured) will chase her dreams at the upcoming World Para swimming Championships in Singapore with the backing of a critical funding boost from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Paralympics Australia.

A key initiative of the Australian Government funded Para Uplift, The Para Athlete Barrier Fund, will help offset a range of necessary expenses such as equipment, travel, and carer and support costs for 122 athletes from across 18 sports.

For the two-time gold and silver Paralympic medal winning swimmer Leary, the funding was timely ahead of the World Championships.

“Receiving this grant will have a significant and direct impact on my ability to continue progressing and performing at the highest level in Para-swimming. It (will) provide essential financial support to cover the ongoing costs of travel and accommodation for myself and my dedicated support worker,” she said.

“This role is critical due to the effects of my traumatic brain injury (TBI), which causes cognitive challenges, emotional dysregulation, and difficulty managing basic life and sport-related tasks. Without this consistent, trusted support during competition and travel, I am unable to function effectively in high-performance environments.”

The Para Uplift has come about through record investment by the Australian Government. It’s a united approach to help our Para-athletes Win Well on the road to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

Other swimmers to benefit from Para Uplift include:

• Chloe Osborn (Dolphin)
• Alexander Tuckfield (Dolphin)
• Daniel Rigby (rising para-athlete)
• Jack Ireland (Dolphin)
• Rachael Watson (Dolphin)
• Callum Simpson (Dolphin)
• Kael Thompson (rising para-athlete)
• Emily Beecroft (Dolphin)
• Alex Saffy (Dolphin)