‘I have to keep pushing’: Alexa Leary’s huge 2025 challenge

Australian swimming golden girl Alexa Leary is taking on her biggest challenge yet in 2025, saying she wants to inspire as many people to overcome hurdles as she can. Read her inspiring plans

Australian Paralympic hero Alexa Leary is on a mission to inspire people in 2025 - even more than she already has - by running the New York Marathon.

The dual gold medallist and silver medallist at the Paris Paralympics in the pool has her sights not only on Australian and world swimming meets in the new year but running the world-famous gutbuster.

It will be no mean feat - even for the Gold Coast-based self-described “living miracle” who defied medical prediction after a horror road cycling crash in 2021 to walk and talk again.

Doctors had told her parents Russell and Belinda in the immediate aftermath to prepare for her not making it on eight occasions - or “having no quality of life” if she did survive which is the focus of new online documentary exclusive to News Corp readers live on January 1.

She will face hurdles with the marathon, including controlling her right foot and side of her body.

She says it “just spins out” after too much physical exertion since her head smashed into the Sunshine Coast bitumen during a road cycling training ride crash in 2021, leaving her with a traumatic brain injury.

“I just love a challenge. I get in trouble, my right leg plays a game, the best I can do (running) is two or three km. I’m not going to lie, because of the brain damage, my right leg and my right side just spins out and I have to sit down sometimes. I can’t continue.

The sky is the limit in 2025 for Alexa Leary, up the SkyPoint Climb on top of the Q1 in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Annette Dew

“(But) I have to keep pushing. Sometimes I have to sit down and warm back up. I can. I know I have the mindset for it. That’s how much determination I have.”

Her other big marathon challenge will be guiding blind Gold Coast Paralympic tandem cyclist Bryce Lindores who aims to run it with her.

“He’s been in my life since I was three. He really is my inspiration to do the marathon, I’ll be doing it with him,” she said, adding with a laugh: “I just hope he can keep up with me as I can’t leave him behind.”

Gold Coast Bulletin Woman of the Year by Harvey Norman and Paralympics dual gold medallist Alexa Leary. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Asked about her motivation for the marathon in the Big Apple, Leary said: “I want to get out there and just inspire everyone to get out there. Prove the world wrong and show them who you really are.

“Whether you have broken your arm, or whatever, who cares. Tell yourself you are going to go further than what you got told with the broken arm.

“It’s like me with my brain impairment - I was told I would never walk and talk again and look at what I’m doing. I’m just out there bringing awareness out into this world to many people.”

Now it’s flex for Lex - Alexa Leary who inspired the ‘Move for Lex’ movement that went viral when she was recovering from a near-fatal cycling crash. Picture: Annette Dew

In the wake of her horror crash which left her fighting for her life and months of rehab and recovery, a viral ‘Move for Lex’ campaign started encouraging people to be active and physical. It’s a movement she continues to embrace, listing her highlights in 2024 as winning in Paris, and taking out the Gold Coast Bulletin Woman of the Year by Harvey Norman title.

“It was an absolute honour. I would love to get out and speak my story to many places and motivate others. Move for those who can’t and get out there, inspire yourself and love yourself first. That’s the biggest thing I have to say to myself every day in the mirror - you have to love yourself. It’s been a massive journey (but) with all the support I’ve had, it’s been amazing.”

Leary said along with training for the Australian and world swimming titles this coming year, she also wants to develop her interest in being a DJ.

Among Alexa Leary’s goals for 2025 are running the New York Marathon, Australian and world swimming champs - and boosting her DJ skills: “I absolutely love music and it’s therapy in my head.” Picture Annette Dew

“I’m so keen to get in the DJ space. I absolutely love music and it’s therapy in my head. Every day when I hear music, I lighten up, I’m always bright. I’m in my zone for music. With the songs I like to change it, if they are too sad for me I’m like ‘Nah next’. I’m an upbeat person.

“It’s something I’m really keen on.”

She credits swim coach John Bell for being a big part of her heroics in Paris and says parents Russell and Belinda her biggest inspiration: “They fought so hard for me to live, it’s the reason why I’m here. They are two people I look up to every day – I go look what you guys did, look what you have done for me, look how far I’ve come. I wouldn’t have done it without you.”

The Alexa’s Story mini-documentary by Portia Large and Matt Coleman is online now at the goldcoastbulletin.com.au. Picture: Matt Coleman.

Originally published as ‘I have to keep pushing’: Alexa Leary’s huge 2025 challenge