2025 SYDNEY OPEN & UNISPORT NATIONALS
- Friday, May 16th – Sunday, May 18th
- Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre
- LCM (50m)
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- Meet Central
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- Results – Meet Mobile: 2025 Sydney Open UniSport Nationals
The 2025 Sydney Open and UniSport Nationals unfolded over the weekend, with many swimmers posting swift times—highlighted by Cameron McEvoy’s impressive 21.53 in the 50 freestyle. Para swimming action also unfolded, and S9-class representative Alexa Leary lit up the pool with three world record performances.
The John Bell-coached star, who represents Bond University on Queensland’s Gold Coast, first set a world record in the 50 free on Saturday with a time of 27.23. This broke the previous mark of 27.25, held by USA’s Christie Raleigh Crossley since the heats of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
Reflecting on the swim, Leary said, “I’m bloody proud of myself… training’s on fire and I’m giving it everything this year!”
Building on that momentum, Leary lowered her own 100 free world record from last month’s Australian Open Meet in Sunday’s heats, clocking 59.07—improving on her previous record of 59.22. She then broke the record again in the final in 58.89.
After the sub-59 performance, she shared, “That was my biggest goal tonight — to re-break the record. I’m pushing the limits… it’s hurting, but it’s something I love.”
Leary’s recent achievements add to an already impressive career. At the Paris Paralympics, she won gold in the 100 free, breaking her own world record twice—first with a time of 59.60 in the prelims, then 59.53 in the final. She also earned gold in the mixed 4×100 medley relay and silver in the mixed 4×100 free relay. Additionally, she placed 6th in the women’s 50 free S10, logging 27.79.
The previous year, she claimed gold in the 100 free and silver in the 50 free at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester.
Her success comes from a remarkable journey. Nearly four years ago, while training as a competitive triathlete, Leary suffered a near-fatal biking accident that caused brain damage and multiple long-term injuries, including blood clots and broken bones. This life-changing event led her to para swimming, where she has since discovered both a true passion and a supportive, tight-knit community.
Looking ahead, Leary is set to compete at next month’s World Championship Trials in Adelaide, with her sights firmly on securing a spot for the World Para Championships in Singapore this September.
Couldn’t agree more. It’s the “Emperor’s New Clothes” of para swimming.
Unfortunately Leary along with Raleigh Crossley are two of the biggest frauds in the sport at the moment. Heartbreaking for the true S9 women.
Why is that? I don’t follow para swimming as much as I should
The classification system is flawed especially for those with brain injuries. Both of these athletes (and many more) throw their swims every time they get evaluated to ensure they’re in the classification they want. Ex. Leary swam a 1:49 100 back and 2:38 100 breast in 2024 for evaluation (didn’t even enter freestyle). In Australia especially this practice is encouraged by coaches/staff
1.49 100 back when she goes 58 for 100 free?! That’s just not possible. So when’s the next classification?
Keep in mind, she swam 1.24 100m back in 2022 and now she has dropped 6 seconds off 100m free but added .24 to 100m back in last year’s classification. It’s all so nuts
It’s disheartening that there would be fraud in para competition but when you start throwing prestige and sponsorships around some athletes are gonna do what some athletes do.
I don’t know what the solution looks like, but when you can’t tell that a person has a disability in or out of the water and they’re performing like rock stars, just maybe they don’t belong in a para competition at all.
I didn’t realise until I befriended a para swimmer how catty para sports are. Constant accusations of lying and athletes trashing each other. Really sad when publicly it all seems so positive.
Alexa Leary can’t even stand without crutches. She very clearly meets S9 criteria (severe weakness in one leg) better than S10 (minimal weakness affecting legs).
“Can’t even stand without crutches” but walks around in giant heels on social media.
In the 12+ years I’ve been involved in para WPS has refused to do any sort of investigation despite obvious concerns (going back YEARS – you can search old SwimSwam articles). This has affected the careers and livelihoods of countless dedicated athletes. People talk because there’s nowhere to even go with their concerns.
These two cheaters give para swimming a bad name!
Alexa Leary is clearly disabled, given the extensive brain damage she acquired with her disability, but it is clear as day that her classification swims do not add up to her World record-breaking races. When will WPS catch up with these athletes? She also did not use crutches at any Paralympic meets until last year, a Paralympic Games year. I was actively racing when she was first classified, and she did not use crutches at her first world championships.
When you’re the fastest female S10 100m free in the world—by 1.61 seconds (Paris gold: Emeline Pierre, 1:00.49)—and you’re just 0.75 seconds off the fastest S10 time ever (58.14, Aurélie Rivard), and you casually break world records at prep meets, all with no visible disability… maybe it’s not some wild stab in the dark to say you should be in a S10. This drives me absolutely bonkers. No one is saying anything, and I feel like I need some anonymous support group to confirm I’m not going crazy.