Australian Paralympic gold medallist Paige Greco has died, aged 28, after “experiencing a sudden medical episode” at her home in Adelaide.
Greco’s mother, Natalie, confirmed the news of Paige’s passing on Sunday in a statement released by AusCycling on behalf of the family.
“Paige meant everything to us. Her kindness, her determination and her warmth touched our family every single day,” Natalie said.
“She brought so much joy and pride into our lives, and the pain of her passing is something we will carry forever.
“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.”
Greco won Australia’s first gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games, setting a new world record in the process as she won the C1–3 3,000m Individual Pursuit with a time of 3:50.815.
It was Greco’s first time representing Australia at the Paralympic Games and she went on to win another two medals, claiming bronze in both the Women’s C1-3 Road Race and Time Trial.
Greco, who was born with cerebral palsy, had initially set her sights on running but later switched to cycling in 2017 and excelled, making her international debut at the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Apeldoorn.
There, she set three world records in just two days on her way to winning the rainbow jersey in the C3 500m Time Trial and C3 3,000m Individual Pursuit, while she also collected a silver in the scratch race.
It was just the start of a very successful year for Greco, who later won the C3 time trial world championship and finished fifth in the road race.
Outside of her success at the Tokyo Games, Greco also won four more bronze medals at the World Championship level through 2022 and 2023, while collecting another bronze in 2025 in the Road Race.
Marne Fechner, Chief Executive Officer of AusCycling, paid tribute to Greco’s “positive spirit and courageous outlook”.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic news of Paige’s death,” Fechner said.
“Paige was an extraordinary athlete who achieved outstanding accomplishments at the highest levels of our sport. Much more than that, she touched the lives of everyone around her with her positive spirit and courageous outlook.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with Paige’s family, friends, teammates, coaches and support staff, past and present, during this incredibly sad and difficult time.”
Cameron Murray, Chief Executive Officer of Paralympics Australia, described Greco as an “extraordinary athlete” and “remarkable person”.
“We extend our deepest condolences to Paige’s loved ones and to those who were closest to her. The sadness being felt across Paralympics Australia today is a reflection of the enormous regard in which she was held,” Murray said.
“Paige was an extraordinary athlete, but more importantly, a remarkable person. As a Paralympian, Paige represented Australia with a level of commitment and composure that earned the admiration of everyone who had the privilege to watch her compete or to work alongside her.
“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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