Paige Greco

Melbourne-born para cyclist Paige Greco became a gold medallist on her Paralympic debut in Tokyo. She also broke the world record for the women’s 3,000 metres individual pursuit C1-3. Now, the 27-year-old is pedalling to return to Paralympic form following a frightening crash in April 2023.

Watch Paige's training journey

About Paige Greco

• Paige Greco was sporty from a young age and had always dreamed of competing at the Paralympics. Her career started on the athletics track where she built valuable foundational strength and learnt race-day knowledge.

  After missing out on the athletics selection for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Greco successfully pivoted to cycling. Her international debut in 2019 took the competition by storm, when she set three world records in two days at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships. Two years later, she was making her Paralympic debut in Tokyo.

  In April 2023, her world changed when during a time trial in Italy, Greco was severely injured in a high-speed crash. She suffered a concussion, fractured her nose, lost a tooth, and needed several stitches.

  Greco’s coach, AusCycling’s David Betts, was one of the first people at the scene.

  “We don’t really know why or how it happened,” said Betts.

  He worked closely with the performance support team at the Queensland Academy of Sport, to create a recovery plan to get Greco back on the bike.

  “We worked really hard with the team doing skills sessions on the road, to the point where Paige crashed, which was good for her to do in a safe environment,” says David Betts.

  “There was a point where I had to bite the bullet and throw Paige in the deep end. So in October 2023 we went to Worlds in Glasgow to throw her back into that environment.”

• “To Paige’s credit, she wanted to do it and gave it her best shot. She knew it was part of the process to get back to her best. She showed a lot of character and that’s who Paige is.”

  A coach’s trust in an athlete is part of a critical equation, which Greco herself is well aware of.

  “The coach-athlete relationship is important, and I think part of the success I’ve had is having such a good relationship,” said Greco.

  “It takes so much more than just me on the bike. And I think I’ve always been aware of that. And it does take such a great team around you. I have a really great support team with QAS, but then it’s also outside. You have a lot of people with you all the way.”

  Greco’s QAS team, including Movement Scientist Courtney Porter, supported her to hone the skills she needed to get back on the bike. Her team are now by her side as she returns to Paralympic form.

  “My role as a skill acquisition specialist is to work with Paige and her Coach to prepare the skill development elements of her race. In the time trial course, we’re helping Paige look for the technical and tactical opportunities for her to apply strategy in her race.”

  Cycling coach David Betts is confident Greco will hit her stride again.

  “She wants to win and that’s what keeps driving her. She keeps fighting to try and win.”