Alexa Leary smashes world records and wins Para Golds

Alexa Leary is Australia’s newest golden girl, smashing world records and winning multiple Golds for Australia at the Paris Paralympics.

First, in the mixed 4 x 100 metre medley relay she swam down the seemingly unassailable Netherlands team after turning for the final lap of her anchor leg several body lengths behind the leader, and in fifth position.

She followed that up two days later with a remarkable swim in her 100 metre free S9 heat, smashing the World Record with a time of 59.60 to book her place at the top of the final ticket.

In the final, she beat the record she set that morning with a swim of 59.53 to claim her second Gold medal and Australia’s third swimming Gold in Paris.

After the record breaking Gold medal swim she told Channel Nine: “I’ve come so far in life, from being told three years ago I wouldn’t live. But I am. So, once I again, I did prove the world wrong. I’m walking and talking when we were told that I would never.”

Leary’s journey to Paris is an inspiring story for the ages. A former junior elite triathlete and world title medallist, she suffered a horrific and traumatic bicycling accident that had the doctors saying she was unlikely to survive.

She ended up spending 111 days in hospital and was left with permanent brain damage.

Veda Dante spoke with the family for SPLASH!. Read the full story in SPLASH! 155 here.

IMAGE: Leary at the Australian Open Championships. Image courtesy of Delly Carr/Swimming Australia