Olympic Bronze Medalist Leah Hayes Breaks Silence on Years of Trauma from Underlying Condition

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Leah Hayes was diagnosed with alopecia when she was just 6 years old. Slowly taking effect on her body, she first started to lose clumps of hair from her head. Then, she started to lose her body hair as well. Coming from an athletic family, an eight-year-old Leah adjustedto her reality, went swimming, and claimed the pool as her own. What about life away from the pool, though?

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Embracing who you are

For long, Leah Hayes used to mask her condition by wearing a wig or a hat. But one day, she chose freedom.

Unparalleled support from peers

Losing all accessories, Leah eventually “went to school bald” and embraced her condition. She said: “When I took my wig off, they[classmates] looked at me. And they were just so happy that I could be myself around them. They cried, and I cried.”

The 17-year-old swimmer champions

A decade has since passed, and now, the 17-year-old is an Olympic Bronze medal winner for the United States of America.

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Olympic Bronze Medalist Leah Hayes Breaks Silence on Years of Trauma from Underlying Condition

For long, Leah Hayes used to mask her condition by wearing a wig or a hat. But one day, she chose freedom.

Losing all accessories, Leah eventually “went to school bald” and embraced her condition. She said: “When I took my wig off, they[classmates] looked at me. And they were just so happy that I could be myself around them. They cried, and I cried.”

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