For Kristen Hayden, being a role model means leaving something better than you found it.
The former All-America diving student-athlete at Indiana noticed a lack of diversity in her sport growing up and quickly became passionate about finding ways to change that.
"Growing up, I didn't have a role model that looked like me," Hayden said. "I really wanted a USA diver that I could look up to and aspire to be like. I'm actively working to try and make USA Diving more of a diverse place so that young divers can come onto the pool deck, feel welcome and have leaders to look up to in their diving community."
Throughout her career, Hayden has become the role model that she felt her sport was missing when she was younger. In 2021, she made history as the first African American female to win a U.S. senior championship after her mixed synchronized 3-meter dive title at the 2021 USA Diving Winter National Championships. The accomplishment was especially meaningful for Hayden as the event took place at her home pool at Indiana and allowed her to become the first African American to qualify for the FINA World Championships.
"Becoming the first African American female to win a USA Diving national championship is really hard to put into words," she said. "To really make a mark in the sport that I love so much, that I'm actively trying to make more diverse and bring more people into is really amazing. Being able to go to my first world championship because of that title and that moment was just icing on the cake."
Hayden's mark in the sport extends beyond her athletics success. As a four-year member of the USA Diving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, she regularly participates in meetings to discuss ways to make diving more diverse and inclusive. She even organized a swimsuit drive and distributed free swimsuits to those in need to help alleviate the financial challenges associated with aquatic sports.
Despite her eventual success both in and out of the pool, Hayden was faced with many obstacles throughout her journey. After being diagnosed with two learning disorders and struggling with academics, Hayden used diving as an escape. However, it was not until she began receiving support and using resources for her learning disorders that she was able to reach her full potential as an athlete.
"In diving, I began to feel good about myself," she said. "Although diving was my escape, I did not begin to excel in the sport until I learned the impact my learning disorder was creating. Through it all, I never gave up."
This demonstration of resilience is the example Hayden hopes to set for future generations of young girls and athletes. In 2023, she became a contributing author to "Dear Rebel," a book that shares stories of the struggles and triumphs of women to empower young girls to pursue their dreams.
"By sharing my story, I hoped to inspire the readers of this publication," she said. "I thought about what I would tell myself if I was a young girl. Everyone's story is so different, and that's what makes it so special. It was just amazing being part of that."
Hayden graduated from Indiana in 2023 with a 3.99 GPA and was named a top 30 honoree for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year. She has served as a keynote speaker for the Disability: IN global conference and continues to share her journey to help inspire and uplift those who will come after her.
"For younger athletes, I would like to be the role model of someone who never gives up," she said. "It has been a struggle to get to where I am today, but it has made me who I am."