Paige Greco, a Paralympic gold medalist, has died. She was 28.
The Associated Press confirmed the Australian athlete’s death in a story published on Monday, November 17. The outlet cited a joint statement by the Australian Paralympic Committee and Australian cycling federation saying that Greco “passed away in her Adelaide home after experiencing a sudden medical episode” on Sunday, November 16.
“Paige meant everything to us,” Paige’s mother, Natalie Greco, stated Monday. “Her kindness, her determination and her warmth touched our family every single day. She brought so much joy and pride into our lives, and the pain of her passing is something we will carry forever.”
Natalie continued, “While we are devastated by her loss, we are incredibly proud of the person she was and the way she represented Australia. As a family, we are deeply grateful for the support shown by so many people connected to Paige, including her teammates and friends. Paige cherished the connections she made through her sport, and we take comfort in knowing how widely she was loved.”
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Paige, who had cerebral palsy, won a gold medal in the women’s C1-3 3,000-meter individual pursuit during the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2021. She also won the bronze in the women’s time trial and road race.
Earlier this year, she scored a bronze medal in the Para-Cycling Road World Championships.
“The sadness being felt across Paralympics Australia today is a reflection of the enormous regard in which she was held,” Cameron Murray, the CEO of Paralympics Australia, said in a statement. “Paige was an extraordinary athlete, but more importantly, a remarkable person.”
Murray added, “Her achievements on the international stage were exceptional, but it was her kindness, her quiet determination and the way she uplifted people around her that will stay with us all. She had a rare ability to make people feel included and supported, and her influence will no doubt leave a lasting impression on so many.”
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Paige was active on social media, showing glimpses of her family life and travels, celebrating her achievements and sharing her low points with fans.
“Being an elite athlete comes with its ups and downs,” she wrote via Instagram in August 2024. “Not being selected to compete at Paris 2024 has been one of the tougher moments of my cycling career. I’ve gone through a few health changes and unfortunately the plan my team and I came up with for this year wasn’t enough to help me qualify. Sometimes the best laid plans don’t work out — it’s a huge disappointment but my performance is still competitive and podium-worthy which is what’s important. Regardless, I’m so proud of the effort my team and I put in to prepare and get to where we did.”
She added, “I’m super grateful for all the support and love at this time and so devastated I won’t be at the Games, but to my teammates and crew I wish you all the very best and know you’ll do us all proud.”
