Olympic gold medalist Staciana Winfield stood on the Hurlbut Theater stage and shared her remarkable journey with St. Margaret’s Middle School students last week – the euphoric highs, the life-rocking lows, and the life skills she picked up to help navigate both extremes.

Mrs. Winfield, who works in the physical education department at St. Margaret’s, weaved her own life story within six steps toward overcoming adversity and finding success she wanted students to remember going forward.

Mrs. Winfield shared the emotions she felt when she lost all of her hair after being diagnosed with alopecia universalis at the age of 12, around the same age as the Middle School students she spoke to. At an age when many are concerned with how they fit in among their peers, Mrs. Winfield was forced her to change her outlook.

“I had to take a step back and say ‘OK, what’s important?’” Mrs. Winfield said. “’What I look like or how I am as a person?’”

While her appearance changed, her drive intensified. She went on to have great success as a competitive swimmer, eventually winning a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics as part of the United States’ 4x100 medley relay team.

But that magical moment was just that—a moment. Four years later, she failed to qualify for a second Olympic team. She eventually moved on from competitive swimming to settle down and start a family, but her world was turned upside down when her husband, Brett, was diagnosed with cancer. He succumbed to the illness last year, leaving Mrs. Winfield and her 6-year-old daughter to pick up the pieces.

“I was so impressed with her ability to talk so candidly about some incredibly painful times in her life, and to help us understand how she was able to move through those challenging times,” Middle School principal Jeannine Clarke said. “We each have our own story, our own struggles and our own battles. It is my hope that our school community is one that supports one another in these challenges and one that honors all that is unique and special in each and every one of us.”

Mrs. Winfield has made many public-speaking appearances since her Olympic success, but said last week’s presentation to her own school’s students was particularly special. “It was great. I like them seeing my vulnerabilities and my sincerity,” she said.

In addition to her duties at St. Margaret’s, Mrs. Winfield uses swimming as a chance to serve. She takes part in Swim Across America in San Francisco Bay each year, leading a team that raised nearly $15,000 toward cancer research this year alone.

Mrs. Clarke appreciated the story that Mrs. Winfield shared to the Middle School, and the lessons she passed on. “Her message of passion, goals, building a team and serving was in perfect alignment with the mission of our school to educate the hearts and minds of young people for lives of learning, leadership and service.”