It's been a few weeks since the closing of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. What caught my attention this year wasn't just the athletic feats, but how many

How Olympic Athletes Turn ADHD into a Superpower

submited by

Style Pass

2024-09-26 15:30:02

It's been a few weeks since the closing of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. What caught my attention this year wasn't just the athletic feats, but how many Olympians came out as ADHDers.

Folks like Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, and others have openly talked about their ADHD diagnoses and how it has impacted their athletic careers. Far from holding them back, it appears that many Olympic athletes succeed because of ADHD, not in spite of it!

The unique ADHD brain wiring can give distinct advantages in sports. Understanding how these elite athletes channel ADHD into athletic success at the highest levels can be valuable for ADHDer executives and founders facing their own high-pressure environments.

Just like with entrepreneurs, ADHD seems to be more common among elite athletes compared to the general population. One review found ADHD rates of at least 8% in college and elite athletes versus about 2.5% in adults overall. The actual numbers could be even higher, as many athletes are undiagnosed or don't disclose their condition.

Hyperfocus: While ADHD is often described as difficulty maintaining attention, all of us ADHDers also experience intense hyperfocus on tasks we find interesting. For athletes, this can mean laser-like concentration during competition and training.