Australian Champs, Day 2 Prelims: Aussie Paralympic “Wonder Woman” Alexa Leary Breaks Her Own WR In The 100m Freestyle
Australia’s Paralympic “wonder woman” Alexa Leary has set the Brisbane Aquatic Centre alight today, setting a world record during the second day preliminary heats of the 2025 Australian Swimming Championships.
ARE YOU SERIOUS: Alexa Leary WR reaction at the Australian Champs 2025 Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
The 23-year-old from the Gold Coast, who survived an horrific bike accident while training for triathlon, smashed out a time of 59.22 secs to better her old mark of 59.53, for the S9 class women’s 100m freestyle.
The previous record was set in her gold-medal swim in Paris last year – and she was quick to declare after hearing her time: “We’ll do it again in the final!”
The previous WR and individual gold came after she anchored the Australian 4x100m 34pt Mixed Medley Relay team to an emphatic gold medal two days earlier – kick starting the Australian team’s campaign at the La Defense Arena.
Leary surprised even herself this morning and when told of her time, Leary said: “I wasn’t 100 per cent sure. I need to see the time on paper … did I actually break the world record?”
“Awww yes, that’s a good backend speed as well. I knew I was hurting but not that bad.”
Coach Jon Bell said Gold Coast-based Leary had been training well and recovered from an infected toe that had kept her out of the water recently.
OMG: Alexa Leary WR reaction at the Aus Champs 2025. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
Leary’s first hit out at NSW State Open Championships in March saw her claim the 50m title but she then pulled out of the 100m event.
This morning’s heat swim marked her first competitive 100m hit out since she
melted the hearts of Australians who have followed the former triathlete’s journey and remarkable recovery – forging a pathway to Paralympic gold in Paris.
Alexa has made a remarkable recovery after her parents had been told their daughter wasn’tb going to survive, setting a goal to represent Australia in swimming at the Paris Paralympics.
The girl from the Sunshine Coast, now training on the Gold Coast at Bond University, fought back from an induced coma after the near-death bike-riding training accident, now taking her family and friends and the rest of Australia along for her inspiration ride – which included her dais dancing routine to woo the crowd in Paris.
THAT WORLD RECORD SINKING IN FEELING: Alexa Leary WR reaction Australian Champs 2025 Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
