Paralympic swimmer Alexa Leary redefined what inspiration means with her two gold medals in Paris. “My parents were told I would never walk or talk again, let alone live,” Alexa says of her 2021 cycling accident. “My strong desire to live is the reason why I am here today and making the best out of my life. I’m so proud that I’m sharing my story about living with a traumatic brain injury [TBI], which I call Totally Brave Individual. “I want people to know my story and the story of so many others living with a TBI … I want people to always feel grateful for their lives and their ability to move. I want to inspire people to move their bodies for those who can’t.” Leary’s success has already led to partnerships with big brands like Amazon to help realise this vision.
It gets better – Leary has shattered her own world record at the Australian Open Swimming Championships.
Breaking Barriers at the Australian Open Championships
Leary powered through the heats of the women’s 100m freestyle, setting an incredible time of 59.22 seconds – breaking her previous world record of 59.53, set just months earlier at the Paralympic Games in Paris. “We’ll do it again in the final!” she said.
“Honestly, I felt so good… I was like, just so confident on this one. I know all the hard work I’ve been doing since the Paris Games, and I was like, come on! You got to bring something home!”
Leary’s victory is not just about the gold medals or the world records. It’s about the journey. It’s about every step she took to get back in the pool after her accident, every moment of self-doubt she overcame, and every person she inspired along the way.
“I want to inspire people to move their bodies for those who can’t,” she says.
