‘We were a powerhouse’: Alexa Leary’s stunning finish secures gold for Australia

The Paralympic swimmer who stole Australian hearts has pinched a gold medal with an incredible final leg in a stirring relay triumph at La Defense Arena.

Alexa Leary. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

The Paralympic swimmer who stole Australian hearts has pinched a gold medal with an incredible final leg in a stirring relay triumph at La Defense Arena. Alexa Leary powered home in the mixed 4x100m medley relay 34 points category for her first Paralympic triumph alongside teammates Jesse Aungles, Tim Hodge and Emily Beecroft.

“‘I’m going to have to weapon myself out here”: Alexa Leary of Team Australia. Picture: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

Leary was a good 20 metres behind Dutchman Thijs van Hofweegen, who has cerebral palsy, when she hit the water. She mowed him down. “That was really good by our team,” she said. “We were a bit of a powerhouse. I was watching us and I was like, ‘Come on, come on.’ When I saw at the end, I was like, ‘I’m going to have to weapon myself out here. We’ve got to take home the gold.‘ I was like, ’I’m just going to have to do it myself.‘ I knew I had to catch him. I’m going to have to overtake him. I could see him and I was like, ‘I just have to take this win.’ I just had to. He was actually a bit in front of me at 15 metres, but I caught him. I just had to.”

Alexa Leary of Team Australia reacts after the Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay on day five of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games. Picture: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

Leary’s father, Russ, said: “She never ceases to amaze. Unbelievable. That was an incredible swim. She just knew what to do in the end. I never, ever doubt her.”

Leary endured a 111-day hospital stay after a horror bike accident on the Sunshine Coast in 2021 left her with significant brain damage. She had to learn to walk and talk all over again. Eight times she was expected to die but eight times she pulled through. Her barnstorming race raised the roof and earned gushing praise from her teammates.

Gold medallist Australia's team swimmers Jesse Aungles, Keira Stephens, Emily Beecroft, Callum Simpson, Timothy Hodge and Alexa Leary pose for selfies as they celebrate during the victory ceremony for the mixed's 4x100m medley relay final event. Picture: Franck Fife/AFP

“It’s an insane feeling,” Timothy Hodge said. “We’re still coming to terms with it. Just absolutely insane. It’s an honour to be part of the team. We gave it everything we’ve got. We’re confident we can say we left everything in the pool. It’s just an incredible feeling and a reward for all our efforts over several years. I’m still in shock. Coming into tonight, I knew it was going to be so close, but I was honestly not expecting to win. It’s unbelievable.”

Emily Beecroft added: “As soon as I touched the wall I jumped out and raced over to Jess so we could cheer Lex into the finish. She was unbelievable.”

Leary was disappointed to finish sixth in the 50m freestyle but her pet 100m is still to come.