Australian Paralympic gold medallist Paige Greco dies at 28
Australian Paralympic gold medalist Paige Greco passed away at the age of 28.
The para-cyclist, who won his country’s first gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, died at his home in Adelaide on Sunday following a “sudden medical event”, the sport’s national governing body AusCycling said.
Greco’s family is “devastated by his loss” [but] I am incredibly proud of him and the way he represented Australia,” his mother Natalie said in a statement released by AusCycling.
“Paige meant everything to us. Her kindness, determination, and warmth touched our family every day,” Ms. Greco said.
Greco, who has cerebral palsy, started out as a track and field athlete before switching to cycling in 2018.
He won many World Championship titles and World Cup medals throughout his career.
She broke the women’s C1–3 3,000m individual pursuit record at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, an athletics event in which cyclists compete head-to-head on opposite sides of the track.
At the Games, she won bronze medals in the women’s C1-3 road race and time trial.
Greco was unable to participate in the selection rounds for last year’s Games in Paris due to health problems, but returned to elite competition this year, The Guardian reported.
He won another bronze medal at the World Para Cycling Championships held in Belgium in August, this time in the C3 road race event.
Following the news of Greco’s death, tributes poured in from various corners of the Australian sports community.
Marne Fechner, CEO of AusCycling, called him “an extraordinary athlete who has achieved extraordinary achievements at the highest levels”. [the] sport”.
“More than that, she touched the lives of everyone around her with her positive spirit and courageous perspective,” Fechner said.
“Paige’s achievements on the international stage have been extraordinary, but her kindness, quiet determination and the way she brought joy to the people around her will remain with us all,” said Paralympic Australia chief executive Cameron Murray.
“He had a rare ability to make people feel included and supported, and his influence will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on many,” he said.
