Paige Greco, a Paralympian cyclist who won gold at the Tokyo Summer Games, has died at the age of 28.
AusCycling announced in a press release on Monday that the Australian cyclist died at her home in Adelaide, Australia, following a “sudden medical episode” on Sunday.
Paige’s mother, Natalie Greco, made an emotional statement over the sudden loss, paying tribute to her daughter.
“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.
“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.
“We are grieving deeply and ask for privacy, time and space to navigate this overwhelming loss.”
According to BBC, Greco had cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement and posture which is caused by damage that occurs to the developing brain.
After switching to cycling from para-athletics in 2018, Greco became one of Australia’s top competitors in the sport.
She won Australia’s first gold medal of the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2021 in the Women’s C1–3 3000m Individual Pursuit and also captured bronze medals in the Women’s C1–3 Road Race and Time Trial.
Earlier this year, Greco won bronze in the road race at the World Championship.
Several heads of Australian sport paid tribute to Greco.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic news of Paige’s death,” Marne Fechner, CEO 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, CEO of Paralympics Australia, 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.”