Paralympians are mourning the loss of one of their own.
Paige Greco—a gold medalist in paralympic cycling—died Nov. 16 at her home in Adelaide, Australia, following a medical episode, South Australian authorities confirmed to AusCycling. She was 28.
“Paige meant everything to us,” Paige’s mother Natalie Greco said in a statement to AusCycling. “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 emphasized the impact of her daughter’s accomplishments in her short life.
“While we are devastated by her loss, we are incredibly proud of the person she was and the way she represented Australia,” she continued. “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.”
Indeed, Paige took home the first Paralympic gold medal for Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games after breaking the record in the Women’s C1–3 3000m Individual. The athlete also collected bronze medals in the Women’s C1–3 Road Race and Time Trial event and multiple World Championship titles.
Marne Fechner, chief executive officer of AusCycling, called the para-cyclist an “extraordinary athlete,” saying Paige reached “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,” Marne added. “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.”
Similarly, Paralympics Australia CEO Cameron Murray called the loss of Paige “devastating.”
“Paige was an extraordinary athlete, but more importantly, a remarkable person,” he said. “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.”