Alexa Leary grew up on the Gold Coast and Noosa in Queensland.

Alexa was surrounded by sport growing up, starting to swim at age seven, then she began cycling and competing in triathlons where she became the U18 vice world champion.

In 2021, Alexa was training on her bike when her front wheel clipped the bike ahead, causing her to fall of her bike and land on her head. Alexa was airlifted to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital where she had emergency surgery that night to save her life.

Alexa spent six months in hospital after her accident, recovering and learning how to walk and talk again. Following her accident which left her with brain damage and permanent weakness on her right side, Alexa started to focus on swimming. 2 years on from her accident, Alexa won gold in the Women’s 100m Freestyle S9 and the silver medal in the Women’s 50 m Freestyle S9 at the World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester.

She followed this strong performance into the Australian Open Championships where she won gold and set a new world record in the 100m Freestyle S9. Alexa realised her Paralympic dream after winning the women’s 100 metre freestyle S9 at the Australian Swimming Trials and booked her spot for Australia in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

CLASSIFICATIONS: S9, SB8, SM9