'She wasn't meant to live': Dad in tears over Aussie swim trials miracle

Remember the name Alexa Leary.

The 22-year-old booked her ticket to the Paralympics on Tuesday night at the Australian swimming trials, and her story is truly a triumph of human spirit.

A former triathlete, Leary was doing a cycling training session in 2021 when her front wheel clipped the bike ahead at 70/km/h.

Her dad was riding behind her and arrived to see his daughter unconscious.

She landed on her head, sustaining several broken bones, a punctured lung and a shattered leg. Leary spent six months in hospital and doctors doubted whether she would survive, let alone walk or talk again. Part of her skull was removed as part of lifesaving surgery.

She lives with permanent brain damage and weakness down the right side of her body, but somehow she fought off death and has channelled her energy into swimming.

The S9 100m freestyle world champion qualified for the 50m freestyle with a time of 27.89 in Brisbane on Tuesday, and you couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.

“I’ve actually come so far,” Leary told Nine.

“I’m so impressed I am even in the water. I’m like yeah Lex, like you’ve come so far.”

As the realisation set in she had qualified for the Paralympics in Paris, she said: “I’m so excited. I’m like, it’s the crepes for me!”

Watch Alexa Leary and her parents react to qualifying for the Paralympics in the video above

Remember the name Alexa Leary. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

There were emotional scenes on pooldeck and in the grandstands at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre, where Leary’s parents Belinda and Russ were proudly watching on.

“I would say they are the reason why I am here,” Leary said.

“They stuck by my side. Six months in that hospital, they never let go of me.”

“It’s unbelievable,” Russ said through tears.

“To think we had six months in hospital, never meant to walk or talk again. Now she’s off to the Olympics.

“The world got behind her after her accident. She turned a lot of heads. She’s done an amazing job.”

Mum Belinda said: “She wasn’t meant to live, let alone walk or talk. To see her, such a big personality, we’ve got such a different daughter back.

“I love her personality. She’s funny, she’s crazy, but most importantly she’s fulfilling her dreams — what she wanted to do prior. She always wanted to go to the Olympics.”

Alexa Leary, what a legend.Source: Getty Images

Paralympic swimming legend Ellie Cole told news.com.au in the lead up to the trials Leary was one of several young swimmers set to take the mantle of a new look Para swimming team.

“Alexa Leary has broken the 100m freestyle S9 world record, which was my classification, so I’m happy I’ve retired,” she said.

“Alexa’s going to swim really well in Paris. She is so raw, real and honest and funny. I love her to bits.”

Leary’s main event is the 100m freestyle, which will be held on Thursday.

She’s off to the Paralympics. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesWhat a legend. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

In other events on Tuesday night, Kaylee McKeown was just 0.08 off her own 100m backstroke world record in another blistering swim.

Mollie O’Callaghan became the fourth woman to swim sub-58 seconds in the 100m backstroke, but she’s not sure yet if she’ll swim the event in Paris, depending on her other events.

Max Giuliani won the men’s 200m freestyle, qualifying for his first Olympics and first Dolphins team in 1:45.83.

Giuliani, who like Ariarne Titmus has moved from Tasmania to Brisbane to pursue his swimming dream, dashed down the final lap and was the only swimmer under the qualifying time.

Ian Thorpe is the only Aussie to swim the four-lap event faster that Giuliani’s personal best of 1:44.79.