‘Just give her a bit of sunlight’: The remarkable journey of a Paralympic champion

About a three-minute walk from the La Defense Arena, the swimming venue at the Paralympics in Paris, is an Irish bar that has become a popular watering hole for Australians during the past six weeks.

At the Olympics and Paralympics, it has been the place of choice for a post-race refreshment among the friends and families of Dolphins representatives wanting to let their hair down and celebrate achievements in the pool.

On Wednesday evening, there was Russ Leary, still wearing his ‘Go Lex’ pink T-shirt, a green and gold wig, and holding court with a beer in hand.

There were hugs and high-fives and permanent smiles throughout the bar as cheers went up every few minutes for the miracle girl, Alexa Leary, after her 100m freestyle (S9) gold medal and world record in the pool.

Russ went to bed that evening knowing his daughter was an individual Paralympic gold medallist.

In a Brisbane hospital three years ago, Russ went to bed some evenings, laying next to Alexa, not knowing whether the young woman in his arms that he and wife Belinda had raised would make it through the night.

Dual Paralympic gold medallist Alexa Leary with her mum Belinda and dad Russ. Credit: Jeff Crow

During triathlon training in 2021 Alexa had fallen off her bike during training. Travelling at about 70km/h, Alexa’s front wheel clipped the bike in front of her. She crashed and landed on her head.

“There are no words to explain that. You just have to believe in miracles,” Russ said at the bar. “This family never gave up at the darkest moments.

Alexa Leary undergoes rehabilitation after her accident.Credit: Instagram

“My wife said, ‘I’m not gonna lose her’. We had eight times where she was gonna die. We accepted the fact she’d be in a wheelchair, in nappies the rest of her life.”

There is a sizeable Leary clan in Paris, featuring Alexa’s four sisters and two brothers who have all made the journey.

As Leary danced and smiled and showed off her gold medal, it meant just as much to those in the stands. Trying to save her life – Leary spent 111 days in hospital – impacted the family in many ways.

“You’ve got to manage your marriage and it breaks up your kids,” Russ said. “The two boys suffered so badly because we weren’t home for five months, and then we had to work through their depression.

“I’ve always been emotional, but since the accident, I’ve been much more … everything triggers you. It probably made other men cry. You’re not a man if you haven’t cried.”

There was also one special person in the stadium who was unable to watch the race. Bryce Lindores was a childhood friend of the Learys who lived two doors down on the Gold Coast.

Lindores is blind, having been involved in a farm accident where a shackle hit him in the eyes while towing a car.

Before Leary’s own accident, she would help Lindores by walking with him and taking him around town. Russ also helped introduce Lindores to tandem cycling, where he represented Australia at the Paralympics in 2008 and 2012.

Alexa Leary and Bryce Lindores in Paris.

Lindores wanted to be in Paris for Leary’s race. Members of the Leary family talked him through the race as the crowd roared her home.

“He’s like a son,” Russ said. “He was excited. He’s over the moon.”

Alexa was asked about her childhood friend.

“An amazing moment. I let Bryce touch my medal,” she said. “I love that he was there last night.”

Leary’s story is one of the most powerful at these Paralympics. The bloody scene at her accident is something that will never leave Russ, who rode behind the main group and found his daughter with her ribs, skull and scapula all broken, as well as a punctured lung and shattered leg.

Alexa Leary has made a remarkable recovery from a serious brain injury.Credit: Instagram

“I could go on for two days about the story because there’s so much we’ve been through and so much to happen,” Russ said.

“Two ambulances came past. I rode down the hill. There was like a dark cloud. There were bike riders everywhere. There was a person with blood everywhere. I said, ‘Don’t tell me it’s my daughter’. It was.”

Not every day is easy. Leary’s brain injury means her mood can fluctuate. Her coach, Jon Bell, has been described as the “Alexa whisperer”.

“She goes off her head,” Russ said with a laugh. “I’ve seen her chuck the swimming bag at him, punch at him, he pulls back, and gets over it. He believes in her.

“Everyone walked away because they couldn’t understand the brain damage. She was aggressive to them. I reckon I can help people with brain-damaged kids because I understand how to look after her and talk to her.

Alexa Leary celebrates her 100m freestyle (S9) gold medal in Paris. Credit: © Sport the library / Paralympics Australia

“Everyone was behind this kid and that’s why she’s here. Australia is behind her. This won’t sink in for a long time. It’s been such a build up.

“I prayed to the universe. I said, ‘God, universe, come on. This kid’s had a hard run. Just give her a bit of sunlight. She needs it. The world needs it’.”

The day after her win, Leary celebrated with a few bites of some French crêpes and spent time with those who matter most.

She wants to swim on as long as she can – potentially until Brisbane 2032 – and continue the new life she is immensely proud of as she doesn’t remember anything before her accident.

“It makes me want to cry too because I know that I’ve been through a long journey,” Leary said. “It’s amazing to say that my dad just never let me go. I’m living my second life.”

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