Australian Paralympic gold medallist Paige Greco has passed away at the age of 28.
The acclaimed para-cyclist, who secured Australia’s first gold medal of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, died on Sunday at her Adelaide home following what AusCycling described as a “sudden medical episode.”
In a statement shared by AusCycling, Greco’s mother, Natalie, said the family is “devastated by her loss” but “incredibly proud of the person she was and the way she represented Australia.”
“Paige meant everything to us. Her kindness, determination and warmth touched our family every single day,” she said.
Greco, who had cerebral palsy, began her athletic journey in track and field before shifting her focus to cycling in 2018. She went on to collect multiple World Championship titles and World Cup medals, cementing her place among Australia’s elite para-athletes.
During the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, she broke the women’s C1–3 3,000m individual pursuit world record, and later added two bronze medals in the C1–3 road race and time trial events.
Although health issues kept her from the selection rounds for the Paris Games last year, Greco made a strong return to top-level competition in 2024. In August, she earned another bronze medal in the C3 road race at the Para-cycling World Championships in Belgium.
Following news of her passing, tributes flowed from across Australia’s sporting community.
AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner described Greco as “an extraordinary athlete who achieved at the highest level,” adding that her positive energy and courage left a lasting impact on everyone around her.
Paralympics Australia CEO Cameron Murray echoed those sentiments, saying her international success was remarkable, but it was her “kindness, quiet determination, and ability to uplift others” that will be most remembered.
“She had a rare gift for making people feel included and supported,” he said.
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