According to BBC World News:

"Star cyclist Joanna Rowsell hopes to be an inspiration to other alopecia sufferers after winning Olympic gold yesterday. Joanna Rowsell (centre) has become a role model for girls with alopecia (Picture: AFP / Getty Images) The 23-year-old was first diagnosed with the hair loss condition when she was 10 and her victory alongside Laura Trott and Dani King took place on International Alopecia Day. ‘I’ve never really seen myself as an inspiration or anything like that,’ she said. ‘It was a bit overwhelming at first and I was a bit shocked, because I don’t want to be known as the girl with alopecia; I don’t want that to be what defines me. ‘But I’ve realised now that I’ve got a responsibility as such. It’s always going to be a part of me, so I may as well embrace it and hopefully inspire other girls.’ Along with Trott and King, Rowsell beat three world records en route to gold. She said cycling had helped her overcome confidence issues linked to her baldness. ‘It was about how I performed on the bike and that’s what I was judged on. That was great. ‘When I started winning that was the best feeling ever. I wasn’t going to stop; I wasn’t going to let it hold me back. ‘You only live once, so go for it.’ Pictures: Day four of the track cycling"

Source: BBC World News