‘She dropped the f-bomb, she did an impromptu dance. We lapped it up’: Paralympian Alexa Leary has dazzled us all
After a grim week of bad news, this golden girl brought us some much-needed sunshine. We all need an Alexa Leary in our lives.
Opinion
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In a grey week dominated internationally by bloody wars and school shootings and locally by reports of crippling financial stress on households already reeling from the aftermath of shocking storms, we needed some sunshine.
Along came a golden girl from Queensland named Alexa Leary, “Lex” to family and friends.
With her infectious smile the Paris Paralympian twice delivered gold in the pool and boy, did her love of life lift our spirits.
I’d challenge anyone not to smile when Leary talks.
After her world-record 100m freestyle win at the La Defense Arena she went on to lead the wildest celebrations ever seen poolside in Paris.
Yes she dropped the f-bomb, yes she did an impromptu dance after she received her medal. Mon dieu! How we lapped it up because not only does Leary’s story resonate, but I reckon deep down we all would like to have her courage and openness to tell it like it is.
Hers is a story well told. The youngest in a big blended and loving family, she defied the odds to be in Paris. Now we also learn it was to fulfil her destiny because according to her parents Russell and Belinda, a psychic said it was in Leary’s stars that she would represent Australia at this event.
Three years ago that seemed far-fetched. Leary was an elite triathlete on a training ride when at high speed she clipped the wheels of another rider and was sent flying. Her father found her in the gutter; her head, leg, knee, shoulder all smashed; lungs punctured, ribs cracked.
For the next 111 days her family never left her side or gave up hope. Not even when doctors said she likely wouldn’t survive and if she did, “Lex” would never be the same again.
Her catastrophic injuries included a life-changing brain injury. Truth be told, she probably isn’t the same, but somehow that’s the beauty of her now.
Leary is uninhibited. When she turned around and looked at the scoreboard after smashing the world record in the 100m she swore, danced and the crowd went crazy.
In her post-race interview the dual gold medallist said simply: “Tonight was my show and it was a great one. I’ve just come so far in life.”
She really has.
Perhaps the National Australia Day Council will hear her story and make Lex a contender for Australian of the Year.
She embodies everything that’s good about us and you can guarantee she will have plenty to say that is sure to make us smile.
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