Fueled by Passion and Determination: Aussie Sensation Alexa Leary Breaks Records in an Astonishing Two-Day Display

Australian Paralympic sensation Alexa Leary has once again left an indelible mark in the record books — and this time, she did it not just once, but three times.

The 23-year-old swimming star from the Sunshine Coast, who has already earned two Paralympic gold medals, shattered three world records at the Sydney Open over the weekend.

On Saturday evening, Leary sprinted to a stunning 27.23 seconds in the 50m freestyle, breaking the S9 world record previously held by American Christie Raleigh Crossley by a mere 0.02 seconds.

She returned to the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Sunday morning and further lowered the world record that she already held in the 100m freestyle S9, navigating the two-lap race in a swift 59.07 seconds during the heats.

Later that evening, Leary broke the 59-second mark in the final of the 100m freestyle, finishing at 58.89 seconds — this marked her second revision of the S9 world record on the same day.

Just last month, during the national championships in Brisbane, she had set her previous record for the 100m freestyle S9 with a time of 59.22 seconds.

“I felt a bit stressed about it because I knew I had broken the record in the heat,” Leary reflected after her third record-setting performance at the Sydney Open.

“But I realised just how passionate and determined I was to break it again. That was my main objective tonight — to reclaim the record.”

Leary’s life took a dramatic turn in July 2021 when she experienced a severe bike accident on the Sunshine Coast.

At just 19 and competing as a triathlete, she sustained fractures in her ribs, skull, scapula, and leg, alongside a punctured lung.

Her condition was so grave that her parents, Russ and Belinda, said goodbye to her eight times.

While she survived, she now deals with permanent brain damage that impacts her memory and emotions, as well as causing weakness down the right side of her body.

She has a titanium plate and a shunt fitted in her head; the shunt is a tube that connects her brain to her stomach to manage fluid build-up. Additionally, special clips are used to secure various parts of her fractured skull.

Her parents are amazed by her resilience, especially during achievements like those over the weekend.

“All these record-breaking swims make me increasingly focused on my goals,” Leary said.

“The more personal bests I set, the more passion and determination I have to accomplish what I need to do. It’s a key aspect of my mindset right now — I’m committed to pushing my limits, even when it challenges my body. The rewards I gain through this are significant and resonate deeply with what I love.”

Leary is gearing up for the world championship trials, scheduled to take place in Adelaide from June 9-14.

The world championships will be held in Singapore from September 21-27.

“I’m incredibly excited; I can’t wait to race,” Leary exclaimed on Monday during an interview with Nine’s Today.

“I feel ready for it. It’s going to be a fantastic experience with a large, inspiring team, and I am looking forward to it immensely!”