Paris 2024: From being told she would never leave hospital, Alexa Leary is now a Paralympian

A severe brain injury put a one-time rising triathlete in a hospital bed for half a year. Her parents prepared for the worst. Now Alexa Leary has defied the odds.

Alexa Leary celebrates winning the women’s 50m Freestyle Final during the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Three years ago Alexa Leary was told she might never leave her hospital bed, never walk or talk again – now the 22-year-old is ready to bring home as many medals as possible from the Paris Paralympics.

In July 2021 Leary – a rising triathlete fell from her bike during a training session. She was riding at 70km an hour when her front wheel clipped the bike in front of her.

Leary landed on her head.

Her parents Russell and Belinda were told more than once that their daughter might not survive.

But they never gave up hope.

Leary – who booked a ticket to Paris with an impressive performance in the women’s multi-class 50m freestyle at the Paralympic trials – said it wouldn’t have been possible without her parents’ support.

Alexa Leary readying herself for the women’s multi-class 50m Freestyle Final. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“They have been there non-stop, all the way through and never left my side for the six months I was in that hospital,” Leary said.

“My siblings, some of them still in school would come to that hospital and wouldn’t leave me.

“They all hoped that I was going to live.”

Both parents were in the grandstands in Brisbane and were overcome with emotion when Leary touched the wall in first place.

Russell said it was almost impossible to fathom how far their daughter had come.

“It’s unbelievable, she had six months in hospital and was never meant to walk and talk again,” Russell said.

Belinda said it was “incredible”.

“She has such a big personality,” Belinda said.

“I got such a different daughter back. I love her personality, she is funny, she is crazy but most importantly she is fulfilling her dreams and what she wanted to do prior, she always wanted to go to the Olympics.”

The accident left Leary with a permanent brain injury. Her journey to the qualifiers and now to Paris has been far from easy.

She has encountered plenty of setbacks.

But plenty of big wins – like taking out the Para World Championships 100m S9 freestyle last August.

Then in April she broke her own world record in the 100m S9 freestyle at the Australian Open Championships.

It isn’t just the chance of winning a Paralympic medal that is spurring her on.

Leary speaking to the media earlier in the week. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“I was told I was never going to leave the hospital,” Leary said.

“I was told I would never walk at all, but I’m proving them all wrong. I’m like well I’m going to go further than what you tell me.

“I’ve done that since I was little, I’m always going to push to go further than what I get told.”

On top of her training in the water and the gym Leary also has countless sessions with physiotherapists, occupational therapists and a behaviour coach. Her mission to retrain her brain is a constant one.

But confidence is a key component to any athlete’s success and it is something Leary certainly isn’t lacking.

“I’ve got a goal in my head, it’s to get the record – I know I can get it and I want to bring home more than one medal,” Leary said.

“I’ve got that in my head. It’s a big goal of mine, every morning when I wake up and train I think about it and I go you’re going to bring home more than one Lex.”