In a moment to savor, Queensland’s Alex Leary has produced the swim of her life to spearhead Australia to its second Paralympic gold in the pool in the 34pt Mixed 4x100m Medley relay Paris.
Gold Coast-based Leary (St Hilda’s, Coach: Jon Bell) produced a barnstorming final freestyle leg of 59.88 (27.87) after leaving the blocks in fourth position - 6.2secs behind her male counterpart from the Netherlands.
But as in life, the 22-year-old who fought her way back from an horrific accident in 2021, Alexa doesn’t know how to give up.
Jesse Aungles (Cruiz, ACT) backstroke, Tim Hodge (ACU, Blacktown, NSW) breaststroke and Queensland’s Emily Beecroft (USC Spartans, Coach Harley Connolly) had set up the first three legs in the final after Hodge and Leary had come into the team to replace Queensland pair Keira Stephens (Southport, Coach Sean Eels) and Callum Simpson (Flinders Aquatic, Coach Chris Wright).
There was no stopping Leary on the final two laps with her teammates screaming her to the finish.
The relay team’s gold came after Queensland’s Jake Michel (Carina Leagues, Coach Brian Glass) had defended his silver medal from Tokyo in the 100m breaststroke for S14s in what was a thrilling down-to-the-wire final.
Michel clocked a personal best and Oceania Record time of 1:04.27, just a touch behind Canada’s Nicholas Bennett who won the gold in 1:03.98 with reigning champion, world record holder and earlier leader Japan’s Naohide Yamaguchi in the bronze position on 1:04.94.
Michel saying: "I'm so proud, Yamaguchi and I have been close rivals. It's a good rivalry. We're very good mates. The crowd here is insane … I got a PB tonight and the last time was Tokyo, so it’s very likely you’ll see me again in LA.”
Australia has now won 11 medals – two gold, four silver and five bronze.
The Queensland Medal Tally:
GOLD (2)
Tom Gallagher (S10) - 50m freestyle
Jesse Aungles, Tim Hodge, Emily Beecroft, Alex Leary, Keira Stephens, Callum Simpson (34pt) 4x100m Mixed Medley Relay
SILVER (4)
Lakeisha Patterson (S9) - 400m freestyle
Rowan Crothers (S10) - 100m freestyle
Jack Ireland, Madeleine McTernan, Ruby Storm, Ben Hance - 4x100m Mixed Freestyle Relay (S14)
Jake Michel (S14) 100m breaststroke
BRONZE (5)
Brenden Hall (S9) 400m freestyle
Rowan Crothers (S10) 50m freestyle
Jack Ireland (S14) 200m freestyle
Grant “Scooter” Patterson (SM3): 150m IM
Tom Gallagher (S10) 100m freestyle
Photo Credit Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
