Column: With eye on the Olympics, Sugar Grove teen swimmer with alopecia inspires while making a big splash on world stage – Chicago Tribune

Leah Hayes is something special - in and out of the water.

Theres no doubt the Kaneland High School junior has made a big splash as a world-class athlete: In 2018 the swimming phenom was named SportsKid of the Year by Sports Illustrated. And earlier this summer she set four world records for those 18 and under at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest.

Pretty neat to have your own Wikipedia page at age 16.

But after sitting down with her last week at the Fox Valley Park Districts Vaughan Center in Aurora, where she trains with Coach Nancy Hooper, it quickly became clear Leahs physical talents are only one part in the narrative of this extraordinary teen, who not only overcame a devastating medical diagnosis, but lists as one of her three main goals other than bringing home Olympic medals giving back to community.

Kaneland High School junior Leah Hayes, who is competing on the world stage in swimming, stretches out before a recent practice at the Fox Valley Park District's Vaughan Center in Aurora. (Denise Crosby / The Beacon-News)

After starting to lose clumps of hair at age 5, Leah was eventually diagnosed with the rarest form of alopecia, an autoimmune disease that attacks only hair follicles and results in total loss of hair.

So you can imagine the impact this had on a little girl and her parents, Jill and Tim Hayes of Sugar Grove.

But also imagine the striking figure this bald and beautiful champion presents at state, national and world swimming competitions.

At 5 feet 7 inches tall, with porcelain skin, high cheekbones, broad muscular shoulders and equally powerful legs that help propel her through the water with dolphin-like majesty, Leah Hayes cant help but stand out.

But what also makes her so unique is how shes learned to stand up.

Up until fourth grade, Leah wore wigs, and hated every minute of the way they made her feel and the effort she had to go through to cover her baldness. Thats when she decided she was no longer going to hide who she was.

With the support of her parents and the staff at McDole Elementary School in Montgomery, the terrified 9-year-old stood in front of more than 100 classmates following a Veterans Day assembly and explained her condition, welcoming questions and the overwhelmingly positive response she received.

Then Leah went into the bathroom, happily removed her wig she did not want to do it at the assembly because of its shock value and never put it back on again.

Leah Hayes of Sugar Grove competes in the women's 200-meter medley final at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on June 19. (Petr David Josek / AP)

Leah doesnt even like wearing hats, anything that covers her head, said mom Jill, who describes her daughter as an old soul who had to grow up sooner because of alopecia, and was always in tune to things more aware of others and what they were thinking.

Although she herself was a college swimmer, Hayes said she never pushed her daughter toward the sport. Leah tried plenty of other activities, including cheer, ballet, soccer and softball. Then, while taking part in a small fun local meet at age 8, she met Nancy Hooper, who at that time was working with a young club at a small pool.

The coach quickly noticed Leahs strong unique way of catching the water, not to mention her passion for the sport, and asked where she trained.

Nowhere. She just takes swimming lessons, Jill Hayes said, to which the coach, a former record-holder herself, replied, She needs to come and work with me.

It turned out to be a match made in heaven, which since September of 2017, happens to be the Vaughan Center. Thats when Hooper was recruited as the first - and only - coach of the park districts new Riptides swimming club.

For a couple of hours, six days a week, Leah works out in the pool there, sometimes sharing the water in the morning with the adult lap-swimmers getting in their before-work exercises. But with her eyes squarely set on the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024, theres no doubt training will become more intense.

When Leah tried out in the COVID-delayed 2021 trials, she was not in peak condition because of the pandemic, but since then has shaved an incredible four seconds off her time in events that include her favorites, the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys.

Nancy helped me enhance my technique and made me a stronger swimmer, said Leah, who responds to questions with an articulate and confident poise far beyond her years. Even more impressive, she exudes genuine humbleness.

She saw something in me, the teen insisted of her coach. I know if Id not fallen into her hands I would not be where I am today.

Which happens to be a world stage.

After a major growth spurt, Leah splashed onto the national swimming scene at age 10 when she broke six national age group records in a span of two weeks, which was pretty much unheard of, said Hooper.

Since then, its been one success after another, including her first international medal in October of 2021 at the World Cup.

I like to win. I love competition, said the Kaneland kid, who no surprise, is an Honor Society student.

From left, silver medalist Kaylee McKeown of Australia, gold medalist Alex Walsh of Nashville, Tennessee, and bronze medalist Leah Hayes of Sugar Grove pose with their medals after competing in the women's 200-meter medley final at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on June 19. (Petr David Josek / AP)

Despite suffering a stress fracture in her foot in April, Leah Hayes still made the USA Worlds Team, which qualified her for the Budapest competition, where everybody who is anybody was competing, noted Leah. Big names included Alex Walsh, Katie Ledecky, Katie Grimes, Leah Smith, Claire Curzan, Regan Smith, Caleb Dressel, Kristof Milak and Illinois own Ryan Murphy.

Leah, who is currently part of the National Junior Team USA, will likely make the International Team to be named in September, said Hooper, noting that each International Team is chosen based on either a qualifying meet or current top times. As I mentioned earlier, the Kaneland teens goal is to not only get to the 2024 Olympics but bring home medals for her country, her state and for the Fox Valley Park District.

People are always surprised when they learn shes swimming with a park district, said Jill Hayes, referencing the high-caliber private or college-centered teams where most top swimmers train. And Hooper agreed that, hearing the phrase park district announced after Leahs name in international competition is indeed rare but a perfect fit for someone as down-to-earth who cares so much about community.

In addition to her athletic prowess, Leah possess a strong faith, which she developed in middle school, thanks to a group of close Christian friends. And, while competition takes her away from the classroom five or so times a year, the Kaneland junior still finds time to hang out with her peers, take part in extracurricular activities and cook some healthy meals for her family, which includes brother Carter, now in college.

Even with that busy schedule, Leah told me she wants to carve out some time to be a volunteer. Thats because, as she gets older, her desire to give back to the community only grows stronger.

As does her need to not only stand up but also speak up.

Leah, who has long defended anyone getting bullied, is beginning to more publicly advocate for being your authentic self, as she puts it, especially for those with alopecia, which does not get a lot of national publicity because its not life-threatening.

Yet as the Hayes family knows, it is certainly is life-altering.

I am fortunate. I have so much support from the Fox Valley Park District, from my family and my school, Leah told me. But there are those who dont have that and feel they still have to wear a wig.

She just rocks the bald truly stunning, said her proud mother. But its not until you get to interact with her that you see more beauty come through.

In or out of the water, agrees her coach, Leah is a natural leader who is there to support anyone, especially those who might be struggling.

Shes not afraid to speak out, to be there to defend others as well as herself for what she knows to be true, said Hooper.

Leah genuinely cares for others ... she really is special.

dcrosby@tribpub.com

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Column: With eye on the Olympics, Sugar Grove teen swimmer with alopecia inspires while making a big splash on world stage - Chicago Tribune