Aussie swimmer’s amazing comeback story after horror bike crash left her so badly hurt her parents were told to say their goodbyes
- Leary was left with a life-threatening brain injury
- She now competes as a Paralympic athlete
- I’m looking forward to competing in Paris this year
Swimmer Alexa Leary has opened up about her journey to the Paralympic Games in Paris after her life took a drastic turn following a shocking cycling accident that left her with a brain injury.
In July 2021, a 70 km/h accident during triathlon training left Leary needing emergency surgery to stay alive.
Her parents Russ and Belinda were advised to prepare for their farewell, and even when their daughter came through, they were told she was unlikely to walk or talk again.
Leary has since made an incredible comeback to the sport and says she is changing the relationship she has with herself.
A year ago she admitted to a behavior coach that she didn’t like anything about herself, but that has all changed.
Swimmer Alexa Leary says listening to Paris changes her relationship with herself
Leary was left fighting for life after suffering severe brain damage in a cycling accident
‘I’m excited for Paris. I’m really looking forward to it and thinking, ‘Come on Lex, let’s do something good here. I’m going to do so well. I know I will,” the 22-year-old said Broad sports world.
‘Every day I write an affirmation on the mirror and I look at it and I believe it and I think about it all day long… It’s like, ‘You love yourself, Lex. Look who you are. You have to learn to love yourself’.
“So that’s very important to me.”
Leary, who represented Australia at the world titles in Switzerland where she finished second in 2019, says she still has her bad days and will continue to do so for the rest of her life.
“Some days are really hard for me because my brain just isn’t normal,” says Alexa.
‘It just doesn’t work as well as it used to.
‘I struggle with it sometimes, but it’s okay; I’ll get through it.’
In 2023, Leary won a gold medal at the world championships in Manchester, dazzling the rest of the field in the S9 women’s 100m freestyle event.
Leary says some days are still very difficult for her because of the brain injury
Leary won gold in the 100 meters at the 2023 world championships in Manchester
“I’m more than happy with it,” said a delighted Leary after topping the podium at the time.
‘I’ve just come this far, it’s important to me that I’ve gone through it.
‘The reason I’m here is because the people around me support me non-stop.
“I’m actually very proud, I’m like, ‘Yes, Lex, you’ve outdone yourself.’