Australian Paralympic gold medallist Paige Greco has died at the age of 28, leaving her family with a pain to "carry forever".
Greco, who had cerebral palsy, passed away after what authorities said was a "sudden medical episode" at her Adelaide home on Sunday.
The champion cyclist won Australia's first gold medal at the Paralympic Games in 2021, when she set a world record in the women’s C1–3 3000m individual pursuit.
Greco also collected two bronze medals at the Tokyo Paralympics and multiple world championship titles and world cup medals.
"Paige meant everything to us," her mother Natalie Greco said on Monday in a statement issued by AusCycling and Paralympics Australia.
"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.
"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 ... we take comfort in knowing how widely she was loved."
Paralympics Australia chief executive officer Cameron Murray said Greco's death was devastating, describing her as among the brightest para-sport stars in the nation.
"Paige was an extraordinary athlete but more importantly, a remarkable person," Murray said.
"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.
"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."
