NEED TO KNOW
- Gold medal-winning Paralympian Paige Greco has died at the age of 28 following a “sudden medical episode”
- AusCycling confirmed she had died on Sunday, Nov. 16, at her home in Adelaide, Australia
- In a statement shared by the organization, Greco’s mother said that though her family was “devastated” by her loss [Greco’s] “kindness, determination, and warmth touched our family every single day”
Gold medal Paralympian Paige Greco has died at the age of 28.
On Monday, Nov. 17, AusCycling announced in a press release that the Australian cyclist had died at her home in Adelaide, Australia, on Sunday following a “sudden medical episode.”
Her mother, Natalie Greco, paid touching tribute to her daughter in an emotional statement shared by the organization.
“Paige meant everything to us. Her kindness, her determination, and her warmth touched our family every single day,” she said. “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.”
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“As a family, we are deeply grateful for the support shown by so many people connected to Paige, including her teammates and friends,” the proud mom added. “Paige cherished the connections she made through her sport, and we take comfort in knowing how widely she was loved.”
“We are grieving deeply and ask for privacy, time and space to navigate this overwhelming loss,” Natalie concluded.
Greco was born with Cerebral Palsy, according to the BBC. Per Mayo Clinic, Cerebral palsy is a group of conditions that affect movement and posture. It’s caused by damage that occurs to the developing brain, most often before birth.
In 2018, Paige switched to cycling after competing in para-athletics.
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She then went on to win Australia’s first gold medal of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in the Women’s C1–3 3000m Individual Pursuit. She also collected bronze medals in the Women’s C1–3 Road Race and Time Trial.
The athlete also won World Championship titles and World Cup medals, including a 2025 World Championship bronze in the Road Race.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic news of Paige’s death,” Marne Fechner, Chief Executive Officer of AusCycling said in a statement. “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.
Cameron Murray, Chief Executive Officer of Paralympics Australia also added, “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,” Murray said.
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