Trampolinist Lucas is aiming high

Lucas Pugh has alopecia but the 15-year-old Coastie isn’t letting that interfere with his achievements in the sport of trampolining.

Sponsored by the Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation, Lucas has had a huge year in the sport.

In July he came first in the Level 6 Double Mini Trampoline competition at Nationals, earning the title of National Champion in his division.

On September 9 he went on to compete at the NSW CHS (Combined High School) Trampoline Sports Championships, coming first in the Single Mini Trampoline and Individual Trampoline categories and second in the Double Mini Trampoline.

He was named 15 years age champion and came second in the Champion of Champions Competition (against all ages).

At the National Clubs Carnival on the Gold Coast in September he came seventh in the Under 17 International Stream Individual Trampoline event and second in the Level 6 Double Mini Trampoline.

A member of Central Coast Trampoline Sports, Lucas is keen to get the word out about alopecia as he works on skills for new routines.

He first noticed the condition in December 2023, when hair started to fall out at the bottom of his hairline on the back of his head.

“By April 2024 I had lost more hair on the back of my head,” he said.

“It had slowly spread out and up.

“In May 2024 I also started losing hair on my crown in the shape of a circle.”

At first reluctant to share news of his condition, Lucas eventually obtained permission from his school to wear a hood or hat at all times.

By June 2024 the alopecia had spread and he wore a hooded jumper or hat everywhere he went except at trampolining.

“Trampolining is my sport,” he said.

“It’s the one place I feel comfortable enough to go without a hat or hood.

“It really wouldn’t be possible to jump with a hat or hood on anyway.

“My coach is really supportive which has helped a lot.

After 18 months of coping with patchy hair loss and regrowth, Lucas made the decision to shave his head.

“I’ve been completely bald now for about five months and every day I get more confident about how I look,” Lucas said.

“I actually like having no hair on my head.

“It’s so much better than having patchy hair. 

“I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes in August.

“It was something that I was worried about before it happened but now that they’ve all fallen out it doesn’t bother me.

“No one really noticed that they all came out because I’m either wearing a hat or my bald head gets their attention.

“I still wear a hat everywhere I go, even when swimming at the beach.”

With no more big competitions slated for the rest of the year, Lucas will focus on training and will compete at a club based local competition at Niagara Park Stadium on November 2.

Terry Collins