Alexa Leary
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Swimmer
- singer-songwriter
- musician
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| Nationality | Australian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 18 August 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Paralympic swimming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disability class | S9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Bond University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Jon Bell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Alexa "Lex" Leary OAM (born 18 August 2001) is an Australian Paralympic swimmer, singer-songwriter, and musician. She won two gold medals and a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. She has won multiple gold medals at the World Para Swimming Championships.
Alexa Leary was born on 18 August 2001 to parents Belinda and Russ Leary. She has four siblings—sisters Madison and Ashtyn, and brothers Max and Jack.[1] She grew up on the Gold Coast and later Yamba and Noosa, where her triathlon coach was based.[2] She attended Good Shepherd Lutheran College.
On 17 July 2021, Leary suffered life-changing brain injuries as a result of a serious cycling accident in Pomona, Queensland.[3] Whilst riding her bike in training for triathlons, her front wheel clipped the bike ahead at 70 km/h. She landed on her head which resulted in major brain damage, blood clots and several broken bones.[4] She spent 111 days in hospital.[4][3] Whilst in hospital, a fund raising campaign called "Moveforlex" raised over $130,000 for enhanced care at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Neurosurgery Ward with a focus on equipment and family support.[4]
Career
Triathlon career
Leary won the silver medal at in the Women's Under 18–19 at World Triathlon Grand Final in Lausanne, Switzerland before her training accident.[5]
Swimming career
Her triathlon training incorporated swimming. After her training accident, she was classified as an S9 swimmer. At the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships, Manchester, she won a gold medal in the Women's 100 m Freestyle S9 just outside the world record and a silver medal in the Women's 50 m Freestyle S9.[6] At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, she won gold medals in Women's 100 m freestyle S9 (world record) and Mixed 4 × 100 m medley 34 pts (Paralympic record). She won a silver in the Mixed 4 × 100 m freestyle 34 pts. She finished sixth in the Women's 50 m freestyle S9. After winning the individual gold medal, Leary said "I've just come so far in life. Being told three years ago I wouldn't live ... but I am. I proved the world wrong."[7] At the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore, she won two gold medals—Women's 100m Freestyle S9 and Mixed 4 × 100 m Freestyle 34pts and the silver medal in Women's 100m Freestyle S9.[8]
Music career
On 24 July 2025, Leary announced that she had signed a recording contract with Australian electronic independent record label Etcetc under the stage name "Lex Leary", simultaneously releasing her debut single "Closer", a tech house and pop song featuring Sydney pop musician Xira, which she co-produced alongside fellow Gold Coast producer and musician Wongo.[9][10]