Australian para-cycling champion Paige Greco, a Paralympic gold medallist and one of the standout athletes in international para-sport, has died at the age of 28.
According to reports, authorities in South Australia confirmed that Greco suffered a sudden medical episode at her home in Adelaide on Sunday and could not be saved.
No further medical details have been released at the request of her family.
Her family said they were devastated by the loss and thanked the global sporting community for its support.
Her mother, Natalie Greco, said Paige “meant everything” to them and described her kindness and determination as central to the person she was.
She said the family was grateful for the messages received from teammates, coaches and friends across the world.
Tributes were led by AusCycling chief executive Marne Fechner, who described Greco as an extraordinary athlete whose achievements and outlook left a lasting impression.
Paralympics Australia CEO Cameron Murray said Greco had the ability to uplift people around her, on and off the track.
Greco lived with right-side hemiplegic cerebral palsy and began her sporting career in track and field before switching to cycling in 2018.
Her rise was rapid. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, she won Australia’s first gold medal of the competition and set a world record in the women’s C1 to C3 3000 metre individual pursuit.
She went on to win bronze medals in the road race and time trial, securing her place among the world’s leading multi discipline para-cyclists.
Beyond Tokyo, she earned world championship titles and multiple World Cup medals. She returned to elite competition this year, achieving a podium finish at the Para Track World Championships in Brazil.
Her family has asked for privacy as they continue to process their loss.
Greco’s passing has prompted tributes from sporting bodies across Australia, reflecting the impact she made in a career marked by resilience, consistency and international success.
