For Russ Leary, the father of champion swimmer Alexa Leary, going to Paris is a massive bonus.

“We’re very excited….for us she’s already won a gold medal by making the team,” Russ said as he prepared to head to the Paralympics. 

Alexa Leary emphatically qualified for the Paralympics at the Australian swimming trials in June.

It’s a long way from the dark days three years ago when Russ and his wife Belinda were camped by Alexa’s bedside not knowing if she would recover from injuries she suffered in a training ride on the Sunshine Coast.

Alexa now lives with a traumatic brain injury she received during the crash. 

But the 22-year-old, who was a promising tri-athlete, has since dedicated herself to swimming and qualified for both the S9 50m and S9 100m freestyle events at the Paralympics.

“For a girl who was never going to walk or talk again it’s amazing,” Russ said.

“Absolutely inspiring and she’s inspired a nation.”

But Russ has set himself and the family their own monumental challenge to overcome. 

He’s signed up, with his seven children, aged between 19 and 34, to do the New York Marathon in 2025

“We’ve started to do some park runs already and we’ll get into proper training when we get back from Paris.”

“But we’ll also be out running around the Champs-Elysee,” Russ joked.

Russ Leary said he was inspired to take on the New York Marathon by Anna Liptak, the founder of Adventure Time Travel. 

Adventure Time Travel specialises in taking people all over the globe so they can take part in the life-changing experience of running the world’s great marathons from Berlin to New York, London and China.

Russ said Anna showed him the “I’m Not a Runner” documentary that she helped create when they met in New South Wales.

“It was so inspiring,” Russ said.

“I’ve got a family of seven children and I thought this would be incredible to inspire them too.”

“Then we said lets get going, lets do it and Alexa, who is going to the Olympics, will be a part of it too.”

Russ said Anna has given everyone in the family a program and they’re all embracing the challenge.

“They’ve all started it, thanks to Anna and her guidance and support.”

Russ said Anna has a way of getting people “out of their comfort zones” so they can achieve more than they thought possible.

“I just think of how many different people Anna got involved (in the documentary) along the way, from Margaret to Barry to Namarrallee.”

The “I’m Not a Runner” documentary follows the inspiring story of five people as they attempt to overcome their fears to take on one of the great physical challenges, the marathon in New York.

To watch the “I’m Not a Runner” documentary, click HERE.