Paralympic champion Alexa Leary made history once again, breaking her own S9 100m freestyle world record at the Australian Open Swimming Championships in Brisbane. Competing in the multi-class women’s 100m freestyle, Leary clocked an extraordinary 59.22 seconds in the morning heats — faster than the record she set at last year’s Paris Paralympics.
Although her evening final time was marginally slower at 59.32 seconds, it was still faster than her previous benchmark of 59.53 and enough to secure her the gold medal.
Effusive and Determined Performance
After the race, a jubilant Leary expressed her excitement.
“Ohh honestly I felt so good,” she said. “I was like, just so confident on this one. I know all the hard work I’ve been doing since the Paris Games and everything, I was like, come on! You got to bring something home!”
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Despite initially being unsure whether she had beaten her record, Leary’s effusive energy was infectious.
“Did I just beat my record? Did I actually? Yes! That’s a good back-end speed as well.”
A Remarkable Journey of Resilience
Now 23, Leary became a national sensation after qualifying for the 2024 Paris Paralympics. But her rise has not been without adversity. A former triathlete, she was nearly killed in a bike accident on the Sunshine Coast in 2021, which left her with a fractured skull, broken bones, and a punctured lung. Surgeons had to remove part of her skull to save her life.
Since then, she has become a powerhouse in para-swimming.
“Every day I challenge myself with the swimming,” she said. “It’s a massive thing… I was very confident and determined to get it done. I really needed it. It’s my event. It’s my number one and I couldn’t leave anything in the tank.”
World-Class Performances Across the Pool
Beyond Leary’s incredible feat, Day 2 of the championships saw several standout performances from other Australian stars.
Kaylee McKeown Leads with World-Leading Backstroke Time
Kaylee McKeown won the women’s 100m backstroke in a dominant time of 57.65 seconds, narrowly missing her own Australian record. Mollie O’Callaghan finished second with 59.23, while Hannah Fredericks placed third in 1:00.41. McKeown’s time was just 0.52 seconds outside the current world record held by Regan Smith and is the fastest in the world this year.
Meg Harris Clinches 50m Freestyle Sprint
Olympic silver medallist Meg Harris claimed the women’s 50m freestyle crown with a blistering 24.57, edging out Alexandra Perkins (25.00), Mollie O’Callaghan (25.01), and Shayna Jack (25.13) in a fiercely contested final.
Max Giuliani Takes Gold in Men’s 200m Freestyle
In a high-quality men’s 200m freestyle final, Max Giuliani outpaced a competitive field to win in 1:47.03. He held off Ed Sommerville (1:47.87), Lewis Clareburt (1:47.95), Thomas Ceccon (1:47.97), and Elijah Winnington (1:48.18).
“I got the win, so I can’t really complain,” Giuliani said. “I love racing… to beat those boys, it’s a great sign and I’m excited for trials.”
Other Notable Wins
- Brittany Castelluzzo won the women’s 200m butterfly in a personal best of 2:06.86.
- Ella Ramsay avenged her earlier medley loss by winning the 100m breaststroke in 1:07.80.
- Isaac Cooper took gold in the men’s 50m backstroke with 24.80, expressing excitement that the event is now on the Olympic schedule.
- Ben Goedemans dominated the men’s 1,500m freestyle, finishing in 14:47.75.
Rowan Crothers Clinches 7th Consecutive Title in Multi-Class Event
In the men’s multi-class 100m freestyle, three-time Paralympian Rowan Crothers (S10) continued his reign, winning the title for a seventh straight year. He edged out a strong swim from Nicholas Layton (S15), delivering another consistent performance.
“Seven titles in a row is sensational, but I’m not about trying to beat other Aussies,” Crothers said. “It really is all about trying to represent Australia for me.”
Crothers praised the growing competition within the para-swimming field.
“We’re seeing, not just a lot of other fast swimmers, but we’re seeing more classes. Getting to race guys like Nick Layton… it’s just so much fun. I love racing in Australia. I love getting pushed to my limits by the other Aussies.”
Other Multi-Class Champions Crowned
- Jasmin Greenwood (S10) successfully defended her title in the women’s 100m backstroke.
- Tim Hodge (S9) took the men’s 100m backstroke crown.
Looking Ahead
The Australian Open Swimming Championships continue through Thursday, showcasing the country’s top swimming talent ahead of key international events, including the World Championships in Singapore and the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
With Alexa Leary’s sensational record-breaking performance and strong showings from stars like McKeown and Giuliani, Australian swimming is firmly on the path to further global dominance.
