Australian Paralympic cycling champion Paige Greco died Sunday, November 16, 2025, at her home in Adelaide following a sudden medical episode, according to AusCycling, the country’s national governing body for the sport. She was 28 years old.
The athlete, who was born with cerebral palsy, achieved international acclaim at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, where she won Australia’s first gold medal of the competition. Greco set a world record in the women’s C1-3 3000m individual pursuit, a track cycling event where competitors race head-to-head on opposite sides of the velodrome. She also collected bronze medals in both the C1-3 road race and time trial events during those Games.
Greco’s mother, Natalie Greco, released a statement through AusCycling and Paralympics Australia expressing the family’s devastation. “Paige meant everything to us,” she said. “Her kindness, her determination and her warmth touched our family every single day.”
The family described feeling immense pride in how their daughter represented Australia on the international stage. Natalie Greco noted that while they are grieving deeply, they take comfort in knowing how widely Paige was loved throughout the sporting community. The family expressed gratitude for the support from teammates, friends, and others connected to Paige through her athletic career, and requested privacy as they navigate their loss.
Greco’s journey in para-cycling began in 2018 when she switched from para-athletics, where she had previously competed. The transition proved remarkably successful, as she quickly established herself among the sport’s elite competitors. Throughout her career, she accumulated multiple World Championship titles and World Cup medals, demonstrating consistent excellence at the highest levels of international competition.
Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that affect movement, muscle tone, and posture. It results from damage to the developing brain, typically occurring before birth, and its effects vary widely among individuals. Athletes with cerebral palsy compete in various classifications based on their functional abilities, with the C1-3 categories representing those with more significant impairments who use bicycles rather than tricycles or handcycles.
Most recently, Greco competed at the 2025 World Championships in Belgium this past August, where she won a bronze medal in the C3 road race. This achievement came after she had missed the Paris 2024 Paralympics due to health issues, making her return to elite competition particularly significant. Her ability to compete at the world championship level after facing health challenges demonstrated the determination and resilience that characterized her athletic career.
Marne Fechner, chief executive officer of AusCycling, paid tribute to Greco’s impact both on and off the track. Fechner described her as an extraordinary athlete who achieved outstanding accomplishments at the highest levels of the sport. However, the CEO emphasized that Greco’s influence extended far beyond her competitive achievements, noting how she touched the lives of everyone around her with her positive spirit and courageous outlook.
Cameron Murray, chief executive officer of Paralympics Australia, described Greco as an extraordinary athlete and remarkable person. Murray noted that while her achievements on the international stage were exceptional, it was her kindness, quiet determination, and the way she uplifted people around her that will remain with the community. He highlighted her rare ability to make people feel included and supported, expressing confidence that her influence would leave a lasting impression on many lives.
The loss resonated throughout Australia’s sporting community, with tributes pouring in from various organizations and individuals who had worked with or been inspired by Greco. The sadness felt across Paralympics Australia reflected the enormous regard in which the young athlete was held by her peers, coaches, and supporters.
Greco’s Tokyo Paralympics performance held particular significance as it represented not only personal achievement but also set the tone for Australia’s entire delegation at those games. Breaking her own world record while securing the nation’s first gold medal of the competition established her as one of the country’s premier Paralympic athletes. Her subsequent bronze medals in road events demonstrated versatility across different cycling disciplines.
The para-cycling community has lost one of its brightest young stars, someone who had already achieved remarkable success in her relatively brief time in the sport. From her switch to cycling in 2018 to her world record-breaking performance in Tokyo and her recent return to international competition in Belgium, Greco’s career trajectory showed consistent growth and excellence. Her ability to compete at the elite level while managing cerebral palsy inspired countless individuals and brought greater visibility to Paralympic sports in Australia and internationally.
AusCycling and Paralympics Australia announced they would continue working with the Greco family and others affected by this loss to provide support and honor Paige’s legacy. The organizations acknowledged the profound impact she had on Australian Paralympic sport and the broader cycling community during her career.
