Leah Hayes Refocused Heading into World Junior Championships
After a breakout season in 2022 where she made the World Championships for the U.S., teen Leah Hayes was flying high after claiming a bronze medal on the world stage in the 200 IM.
But going back to high school can be tough after a performance like that.
“I was in a little bit of a lull after Worlds,” Hayes told World Aquatics. “I did not know how to carry myself with the success I had had. Going to a local meet with not as much pressure, I still felt pressure to be the best that I could any time and all times I was competing. I felt the same way at practice. I went back with a different mindset feeling that I had to be perfect every single day to maintain my status in swimming and get better. It was very stressful and not good for my mental health and so with some time, it really just did not work well.
“Eventually I realized I needed to go back to my roots and that I enjoyed swimming by itself and everything else was just perks. Swimming and competing, I had to go back and realize it was just simple. It was something I enjoyed doing and I couldn’t think about the pressure or the eyes around me.”
One year after her global breakout in Budapest, Hayes finished third in the 400 IM in 4:28.45 at 2023 U.S. Nationals, then fourth in the 200 IM in 2:10.42, just missing out on Worlds roster spots. Her times were not as fast as they were just two months before at a midseason TYR Pro Swim Series meet, so she took a break and recharged, something she needed to refocus for Junior Worlds.
“After Nationals, I decided to go to Florida for a few days for a fresh restart and just relax a little bit,” Hayes said. “I wasn’t too happy with my performance (at Nationals) so my coach and I went back to the drawing board and made some new plans and things have been going really well.”
She will swim the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 free at the meet in Netanya, Israel.
Hayes is hoping to take the positives from 2022 Worlds and the learning experiences from 2023 to put a flourish on her season.
“I really was able to understand the impact of believing in myself,” Hayes told World Aquatics. “I am physically and mentally prepared for this.”