How UCLA rower Claire Prindiville beats rare disease
Claire Prindiville, a UCLA rower, lives with a rare neurological autoimmune disorder that threatens a 60% chance of recurrence with severe symptoms. Despite the uncertainty, she maintains a positive mindset, rising early each day and celebrating her ability to move. She has transformed her struggle into resilience, achieving personal milestones and earning a scholarship through perseverance.
- ▪Claire Prindiville has a rare neurological autoimmune disorder affecting her brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve.
- ▪She was temporarily blind in her left eye and experienced symptoms like leg weakness and loss of bladder control during her initial diagnosis.
- ▪Prindiville rose from being a walk-on to a scholarship rower in UCLA's top varsity boat.
- ▪She runs the LA Marathon, went skydiving, and uses a mindset of gratitude and positivity to face her condition.
- ▪Her disease initially presented with migraines, and she remains vigilant about potential recurring symptoms like headaches and fatigue.
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Sports How UCLA rower Claire Prindiville beats rare disease By Ben Bolch Published May 16, 2026, 8:00 a.m. ET Claire Prindiville wakes up not knowing if this will be the day. The day that her symptoms come back. The day that her legs betray her again. The day that her vision falters, or her ability to use the bathroom is out of her control. Doctors have told her there’s a 60% chance that she’ll have to battle these same despicable conditions again, and if they return they might be worse than the first bout. 4 UCLA’s Claire Prindiville (center) has a rare neurological autoimmune disorder. Courtesy of Don Liebig/ASUCLA Somehow, none of those possibilities crosses the UCLA rower’s mind as she rises at 5:28 every morning except Sunday thanks to an alarm that beats the roosters.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at California Post.
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