Para Golden Girl Alexa Leary’s 50m Freestyle World Record Lights Up Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre
Paralympic gold medallist Alexa Leary has surprised even herself at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre overnight, breaking the S9 50m freestyle world record on the second day of the 2025 Sydney Open and Uni Nationals Meet.
Leary’s blistering 27.23 eclipsed the previous mark of 27.25 set by the USA’s Christie Raleigh Crossley during the heats of the S9 50m freestyle at last year’s Paris Paralympic Games.
It follows a golden Paris campaign which saw her claim two gold medals and her recent world record in the 100m freestyle at last month’s Australian Open in Brisbane, even if it took a moment to register.
“Personally, once again, I didn’t really realise I did it, and it’s like, this takes me a bit of time to know that I broke it, but I’m proud of myself. I can’t believe I actually did it again” she said with a post-race grin.
“Training’s on fire. I’m giving so much dedication to what I want this year…and the 100m freestyle is my number one (event), my passion, my dedication is there.”
Leary (Bond, Gold Coast, QLD) will contest next month’s World Championship Trials in Adelaide with her sights set on the World Para Championships in Singapore in September.
Coach Jon Bell, who has worked closely with Leary through her journey to the top of international competition, praised Leary’s consistency and unique training approach.
“In order to race fast, you need to practice (swimming at) speed multiple times. So that’s essentially what we do,” said Bell.
“We try and come into these meets, try and be ready to go with minimal taper, and it’s what basically keeps Lexi within a band of speed.
“So that she doesn’t have big workout loads and big drop offs because her nervous system can’t handle massive loads.”
Looking ahead, Bell confirmed that while Trials are the next major focus, a short course event may serve as a fine-tuning meet before Singapore.
“What an incredible young lady,” Bell said. “It’s been an honour and a privilege to be part of her journey.”
Leary’s record-breaking performance lit up the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, with three-day meet to conclude today.
In other highlights:
Paris Olympian Will Yang (Sydney University, NSW; Coach Adam Kable) won the men’s 100m freestyle in 48.72 from Ed Sommerville (QLD Uni of Technology) 49.33 and Marcus Da Silva (University of Technology Sydney, NSW) 50.22.
Milla Jansen (Bond, QLD; Coach Chris Mooney) added the 200m freestyle to her 50m freestyle win, in 1:59.18 in a nail-biter of a finish from Bond teammate Hannah Casey (1:59.20) with Phoebe Bentley (Griffith University, QLD) a touch away third in 1:59.26.
While Australian Open champion Harrison Turner (Nudgee College; coach Shaun Crow) continued his good form in the buildup to next month’s World Championship Trials, with a comfortable win in the 200m butterfly in 1:58.19 from Joseph Hamson (Macquarie University, NSW) 2:04.29 and Charlie Luton (University of QLD) 2:04.80.
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