Paralympics Day 5: Alexa Leary Take A Bow After Triumphant Freestyle Anchor Gives Australia A Memorable Mixed Medley Gold
Australia needed an anchor swim for the ages and its live wire Paralympic debutant Alexa Leary delivered in spades at the Paris La Defense Arena tonight spearheading Australia’s 34pt 4x100m Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay to a memorable gold.
Three years ago, the 23-year-old Down Under Wonder Woman was fighting for life in a Brisbane hospital during the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo.
Tonight she showed all the fight that saved her life, mowing down the Netherlands to give the Dolphins what many thought was impossible.
Diving in fourth and 20 metres behind the final Dutch male swimmer and seemingly no chance of winning, Leary, like she has lived her life, wasn’t giving up.
Not this Sunshine Coast girl, who spent two weeks in an induced coma after an horrific bike accident caused significant brain injuries while training in her former life as a triathlete.
Three years on from her life changing episodes and the Gold Coast-based swimmer is certainly making a splash in her new sporting career in paralympic swimming.
Down the first lap in 27.87 and even one of Australia’s all-time greatest relay anchors, four-time Olympic champion Cate Campbell, was starting to get excited alongside Brenton Speedin the Nine Now commentary box, as Leary moved the Aussies from fourth into the silver medal position – gold still seemingly out of reach.
But not for long. Not for Alexa Leary.
With the Dutch nudging their own world record with 25m to swim, Leary motored, charging up to and then past the leader and into the wall – splitting 59.88 – the Australians winning a remarkable gold in a new Paralympic record time of 4:27.08.
The Dutch in second in 4:28.07 with Spain third in 4:29.29.
The girl who had endured a 111-day stay in the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, having to learn to walk and talk all over again – eight times expected to die but eight times pulling through, had pulled through again and how sweet it was for the six Australians.
An ecstatic Leary over the moon and with her three final teammates there ACT’s Jesse Aungles (backstroke), NSW’s Tim Hodge (breaststroke) and the Sunshine Coast Queenslander Emily Beecroft (butterfly), overcome with joy, excitement and disbelief.
“They were a bit in front, and I was like I’ve got to chase these people, we’ve got to win this, we’re a strong team and we did it,” Leary said.
In what Leary called “the best team ever”; Aungles led off in backstroke in 1:08.18; with Hodge following in breaststroke (1:11.66), Beecroft next in butterfly (1:07.36) – and as it turned out, very much keeping the Aussies and Leary in touch, before the final change for that stunning final freestyle leg.
Australia’s coaching masterstroke to thrust Hodge and Leary into the final team after the Gold Coast’s Tokyo silver medallist Keira Stephens (breaststroke) and Sunshine Coast rookie Callum Simpson (freestyle) had teamed up with Aungles and Beecroft in their convincing heat win – showing the depth in the Australian program.
And in a fitting tribute – all six swimmers stood on the podium to sing Advance Australia Fair and celebrate a memorable moment.
“It’s an insane feeling,” said Hodge, holding his first Paralympic gold.
“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.”
Beecroft, winning her first Paralympic medal, adding: “As soon as I touched the wall I jumped out and raced over to Jessie so we could cheer Lex into the finish. She was unbelievable.”
With the final words left to the ultimate freestyle anchor herself, Cate Campbell: “Alexa Leary…take a bow!”