Alexa Leary’s journey one year on from horrific cycling crash

A year on from her life-threatening cycling crash and Sunshine Coast triathlete Alexa Leary is in the pool with a goal of winning gold at the Paralympics. WATCH THE VIDEO

One year on from her life-threatening cycling incident, Sunshine Coast triathlete Alexa Leary is back in the pool with a personal goal of winning gold at the Paralympics.

On July 17, 2021, Ms Leary, better known as Lex, was out training in Pomona when she clipped the wheel of another rider causing her to lose control of her bike and was placed in an induced coma.

The now 20-year-old suffered major injuries including a fractured scapula, shoulder blade, wrist, ribs, a collapsed lung, serious nerve damage, significant memory loss and reduced mobility to the right side of her body.

After 74 days at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Ms Leary was transferred to the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit on September 29 and later returned home on November 4.

Alexa Leary in an induced coma after a training incident in July 2021.

Now almost 365 days on from the nightmare event, Ms Leary is back in the pool and a part of the Swimming Australia Para National Development Squad.

“It’s great to be back in the pool, I’m doing mainly freestyle, I can do a little bit of backstroke but my arm isn’t the best so it’s very hard, I can’t do butterfly and I hate breaststroke,” she said.

“I’ll be moving to the Gold Coast soon to be with my coach and I’m going to push myself as I want to win gold for Australia at the Paralympics.”

Alexa Leary (middle) with her father Russell and mother Belinda at the Australian Titles in Adelaide.

In the past six months Ms Leary was awarded Australia’s most inspirational F45 trainer, has worked as an ambassador for the Sunshine Butterflies, help raise more than $145,000 for the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and her social media page ‘moveforlex’ has accumulated more than 135,000 followers.

Her father Russell said it was a ‘miracle’ just how far she had come.

“It was up and down and it’s still up and down as Alexa’s brain is still re-routing but hopefully she can soon get back to a normal life,” Mr Leary said.

“I think the swimming is amazing for her, she’s got a great coach and she’s very excited for that so it’s been a rollercoaster but it’s still a miracle that we’ve got her home, alive and still moving forward.”

Originally published as Alexa Leary’s journey one year on from horrific cycling crash