[1] At the age of eleven she was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, an inherited form of juvenile macular degeneration, which causes progressive loss of vision.

[4] Hayes broke onto the international sporting stage when she entered the 2002 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lille, France.

She improved her long jump result from four years prior by posting a distance of 5.19, but she still failed to make the podium.

Hayes dominated the field, beating her nearest rival, Algeria's Lynda Hamri into a distance second place.

[6] In 2013 Hayes was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga (silver) by president Jacob Zuma; for Her courageous and relentless pursuit of excellence and incredible physical endurance.

[4] Hayes was unable to attempt a second defence of her long jump title, after the T13 event was removed from the schedule for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.