Alexa Leary misses out on Commonwealth Games after reclassification

Alexa Leary will miss out on a spot at the Commonwealth Games. (Supplied: Swimming Australia/Delly Carr) Alexa Leary, world record holder and defending Paralympic champion in the 100m freestyle, will miss the Commonwealth Games. Australia has named 18 para-swimmers to their squad, including seven debutants. The rest of the Commonwealth Games squad will be named at the conclusion of the Australian Swimming Trials in Sydney on 13 June. Link copiedShareShare articleTwo-time Paralympic gold medallist Alexa Leary will miss this year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after the International Paralympic Committee adjusted her classification. Leary, 24, was expecting to make her Commonwealth Games debut in Scotland. The reigning world record holder in the S9 category has been reclassified as an S10 athlete, a faster classification for athletes with less-severe impairments. Due to a limited program of events at the Commonwealth Games, there are no sprint freestyle events for S10 swimmers, with the only event in that category the 200 metre individual medley, which Leary does not compete in. Leary has fast become one of the stars of the Australian Dolphins, with her effervescent personality belying a cycling accident that almost cost her life as a 19-year-old. A budding triathlete, Leary spent six months in hospital after crashing at 75 kilometres per hour during a training ride on the Sunshine Coast in 2021. Two-time Paralympic gold medallist Alexa Leary is calling for a day to recognise traumatic brain injury and the unique challenges it brings. Leary landed on her head, with surgeons having to remove part of her skull to save her life. She also broke several bones and punctured a lung. After taking up swimming again with an acquired brain injury, Leary became the darling of Australian swimming when she qualified for the Paris Paralympics, melting hearts with her emotional reaction to qualifying at the team trials in Brisbane. Despite losing the three-time world champion and her infectious enthusiasm, Australia has named an 18-strong team for the Glasgow event, including seven debutants. Defending 100m backstroke S9 gold medallist Timothy Hodge and 100m butterfly S10 champion Col Pearse headline the squad, which also features three-time Paralympic champion Lakeisha Patterson. Lakeisha Patterson already has two Commonwealth Games gold medals to her name. (Getty Images: Quinn Rooney) "It's always an honour to wear the green and gold and representing Australia at my fourth Commonwealth Games is special," said Patterson, who has won two Commonwealth Games golds in her lengthy and hugely successful career. "The Commonwealth Games is the only time on the international stage we get to compete alongside our able-bodied friends, and we have more classifications on offer this time around. "And I am so excited to have [14-year-old] Mia Hogan on the team, who is basically the same age as me when I made my Australian debut [15]." To date, Hogan is the youngest member of the Australian Commonwealth Games team. ABC Sport Daily is your daily sports conversation. We dive into the biggest story of the day and get you up to speed with everything else that's making headlines. "I am so excited to join the Dolphins at the Commonwealth Games, to wear the green and gold, it's something I've dreamed about," Hogan said. "I've learned so much from the more experienced swimmers … I'm really looking forward to joining them on team and racing on such a big stage." Mel Tantrum, Swimming Australia's national head coach of the Paralympic program, said she was excited about the balance of the team. "There is so much experience and youth in this team … from Tim, Col and Lucky through to Mia and all our debutants and the likes of Kirralee Hayes returning to the team — her first Australian team since Birmingham," Tantrum said. "For us we're expecting a full medal sweep in some events and across the board we are expecting to be a very competitive team." The rest of Australia's Commonwealth Games team will be announced at the conclusion of the Australian swimming trials in Sydney on 13 June. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)PromotionSportWomen's players sick of being told 'don't bite the hand that feeds you'Topic:Sport

Alexa Leary misses out on Commonwealth Games after reclassification

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