Alexa Leary is off to Paris
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The world champion para swimmer blazed through the women’s multi-class 50-metre freestyle at the Australian Paris 2024 swimming trials on Tuesday not only winning the race but also clocking 27.89 seconds, scorching past the Paralympic entry standard of 28.27.
On Thursday she also booked her spot in what’s considered her main event, the 100m Freestyle S9 with a blistering 1:00.38, obliterating the qualification standard by 4.77 seconds.
It would be hard to overlook Alexa’s achievements on the pathway to Paris. Apart from securing a Paralympic quota spot for Australia with her world title win at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester in the 100-metre Freestyle S9, her time of 1:00.24 was just 0.04 seconds outside the championship record set by New Zealand’s Sophie Pascoe. She also took home silver in the 50-metre Freestyle S9. Then this year she scored gold and a new world record in the 100m Freestyle S9 at the Australian Open Championships.
Being the big personality she is, Alexa channels all her energy into sport. “I’ve just always wanted to do sport.” She began swimming in a squad at the age of 7 but soon wanted more, going cycling with her parents and then getting into triathlon, becoming the U18 vice world champion. “I have ADHD and I just want to do everything, every sport.”
Sport gave purpose to her recovery from the high-speed cycling accident three years ago which left her with brain damage and permanent weakness on the right side. And now sport is taking her to her first Games, which is a dream fulfilled – and one which the Pho3nix Foundation has supported through the Pho3nix Athlete Program.
“Pho3nix is a very supportive community and they always keep us going and thriving in our goals,” Alexa says. “I’m actually really excited because the Paralympics are pretty big.”
But she isn’t going to Paris just to participate; her hunger for excellence won’t let her go for anything less than the best. “I would just love to come home with a gold and break a record. That’s my number one thing – and have my crepes. I love crepes! They’re my favourite thing in the world.”
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