The prominent American para-athlete has made a powerful statement at the Paralympic Games. Despite that, at the moment he is not shining as usual, having recently finished 7th in 100 metres and 5th in long jump, both in the T38 category, Mayhugh's ambition has no limits. His hair, dyed in a design resembling a brain scan, is not just a gesture of style and purity but a vivid representation of his life story and his battle with cerebral palsy. 

“The top of my head looks like a brain,” Mayhugh tells the official portal olympics.com, referring to his choice of this fresh and up-to-date look. But this design goes beyond aesthetics: it reveals a "dead spot" on the right side of his brain, a mark affecting the left side of his body, a remnant of a stroke he suffered at birth.

This symbol is his way of giving voice to a reality that often goes unnoticed: invisible disabilities, which frequently emerge at Paralympic events and often lead to misunderstandings. "I wanted people to talk about it," Mayhugh explains, "to understand that there are disabilities that aren’t visible, and that people like me, even if we look normal, still face challenges," he reveals from the depths of his heart.

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 14 after a life-changing seizure, Mayhugh received the news with a mix of relief and challenge. Understanding the cause of the difficulties he had faced since childhood was enlightening, but it also confronted him with the harsh reality of being labeled "disabled." Rather than giving up, the then young football player decided to show that his condition would not hold him back. "My neurologist told me I would never play sports again," he recalls. But instead of accepting it, he stood up, looked at her, and told her she was wrong.

Today, that determination is reflected in every race he runs, every medal he wins, and, of course, in the iconic design he sports on his head. By replicating his brain scan on his hair while competing in Paris, Mayhugh shares his story but also challenges perceptions, educates the public, and seeks to inspire those facing similar obstacles. It is, indeed, a powerful visual statement that resonates at the heart of the Paralympic Games, a reminder that true strength lies in the ability to overcome what others consider insurmountable.