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Alexa Leary

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Alexa Leary
OAM
Personal information
NationalityAustralian
Born (2001-08-18) 18 August 2001 (age 24)
Occupations
  • Swimmer
  • singer-songwriter
  • musician
Lex Leary
Genres
Instruments
Years active2025–present
LabelEtcetc
Sport
CountryAustralia
SportParalympic swimming
Disability classS9
ClubBond University
Coached byJon Bell
Medal record
Paralympic swimming
Representing  Australia
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris 100 m freestyle S9
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Mixed 4×100 m medley relay 34pts
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris Mixed 4×100 m freestyle relay 34pts
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Manchester 100 m freestyle S9
Gold medal – first place 2025 Singapore 100 m freestyle S9
Gold medal – first place 2025 Singapore Mixed 4×100 m freestyle relay 34 pts
Silver medal – second place 2023 Manchester 50 m freestyle S9
Silver medal – second place 2025 Singapore 50 m freestyle S9

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.


Early life

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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

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Triathlon career

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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

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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

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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]

Discography

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Singles

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List of singles, with title, year, and album details shown
Title Year Album
"Closer"
(featuring Xira)[9] 		2025 Non-album single

Awards and recognition

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References

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  1. ^ Decent, Tom (21 April 2023). "'They call me a miracle': Alexa cheated death. Now she's on the Australian swim team". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  2. ^ "The Road to Recovery – Alexa Leary". Bindi Nutrition. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b Trajkovich, Marina (4 November 2021). "Sunshine Coast triathlete Alexa Leary returns home after life-changing brain injury". 9News. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Hall, Peter (4 November 2021). ""This is unbelievable": after 111 days in hospital Lex returns home to continue brave fightback". Sunshine Coast News. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Alexa Leary". World Triathlon. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Results – 2023 World Para Swimming Championships". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  7. ^ Decent, Tom (4 September 2024). ""It's a miracle that I'm living": Leary breaks world record, dances on medal dais". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Swimming Australia – Gold Class: Dolphins wrap up World Para Champs with world record". Swimming Australia. 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  9. ^ a b Brandle, Lars (24 July 2025). "Alexa Leary dives into house music with Etcetc deal (Exclusive)". The Music Network. Archived from the original on 18 April 2026. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  10. ^ Noakes, Cameron (25 July 2025). "Champion swimmer Alexa Leary transforms herself for new music career". 7News. Archived from the original on 18 April 2026. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  11. ^ "Dolphin Déjà Vu ahead of Paris for O'Callaghan and Crothers". Swimming Australia. 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Swimming makes a big splash at AIS Performance Awards". Australian Institute of Sport. 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Community legends and Queensland sporting stars celebrated at 2024 Queensland Sport Awards and Hall of Fame induction". QSport. 2024. Archived from the original on 22 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  14. ^ Zoe (30 November 2024). "Australia's finest celebrated at Paralympian of the Year Awards". Paralympics Australia. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division" (PDF). Governor-General of Australia. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
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