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.
ADHD advantages in sports
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.
So why does ADHD seem to give some athletes an edge? Several ADHD traits can become an athletic advantage:
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.
Olympic marathon runner Molly Seidel describes it this way: "ADHD honestly does feel like [a superpower] a little bit, especially in something like the marathon, because you're having to focus on a really intense thing for a long time. I feel like I'm able to lock in in a way that I don't know I could without ADHD."
I experience this myself when rock climbing, a sport often associated with thrill-seekers. Far from being hyped on adrenaline, I feel calm, composed, and 100% focused on making the next move in a way that feels almost superhuman.
High Energy: The hyperactivity of ADHD can fuel athletes through grueling training regimens. What might seem like "too much" energy in a classroom becomes an asset for sports requiring stamina and drive.
Risk-Taking: Impulsivity and willingness to take risks—often seen as ADHD downsides—can benefit athletes in split-second decision-making during competition.
As clinical psychologist Scott Kollins says, "You have people who are willing to do things others wouldn't, take some risks, whether it's with their time or pushing themselves harder."
Thriving Under Pressure: Many with ADHD perform best in high-intensity situations.
The adrenaline and pressure of elite competition can help focus the ADHD brain. Paralympic gold medalist Allysa Seely admits, "That's when I feel like I operate the best—it's like everything is high stress, high stakes, and I'm just like, 'All right, let's do this.'"
Creativity: The non-linear thinking common in ADHD can also lead to creative problem-solving and unique approaches in sports strategy and technique.
For many athletes, ADHD traits that may be challenging in other areas of life become superpowers in their sport. Olympic shot put champion Michelle Carter says, "My path is different, but I wouldn't change it because I just think that it's part of my creativity and it's part of my personality—I think it adds that flair to my life."
Managing the challenges
Of course, ADHD isn't all positive. The same traits that give athletes advantages, can also create challenges if not managed. Which might include:
- Poor organization and time management
- Inconsistent performance
- Impulsivity leading to risky decisions
- Emotional reactivity affecting relationships
- Struggles with attention outside of sports
Plus, ADHD is often accompanied by other conditions like anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. The intense focus on athletic goals can sometimes hide these issues until injury or retirement brings them to the surface.
For female athletes, ADHD can manifest differently than the stereotypical hyperactive presentation. They are more likely to have inattentive-type ADHD, which can look like disorganization, procrastination, or perfectionism. This, combined with societal conditioning to mask symptoms, means many female athletes go undiagnosed for years.
Seidel, for instance, wasn't diagnosed until her mid-20s, after already becoming an NCAA champion and Olympian. "I thought, I can't have ADHD, I'm not like that," she says about her initial reaction.
Finding balance and support
For athletes to fully harness ADHD as a superpower while mitigating its challenges, proper diagnosis and management are crucial. This often involves a combination of strategies:
Medication: Stimulant medications like Adderall and Ritalin can be highly effective in managing ADHD symptoms. However, their use in competitive sports is complicated. Many sporting bodies ban stimulants without a Therapeutic Use Exemption, and some athletes worry the drugs will dull their competitive edge.
Seidel found medication "life-changing" initially but ultimately stopped taking it for competition. "For me, I feel like it takes away a little bit of what allows me to get into that zone that I need to perform at a world-class level," she explains.
Non-Medication Approaches: Many athletes find success with non-pharmaceutical treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness techniques, and specialized ADHD coaching. Technological aids like the FDA-approved EndeavorRx video game for ADHD are also becoming more common.
Lifestyle Management: Creating structure, using organizational tools, and prioritizing sleep and nutrition can help athletes manage ADHD symptoms.
Building a Support System: Open communication with coaches, teammates, and medical staff about ADHD challenges and needs is vital.
Embracing Strengths: Rather than trying to "fix" ADHD, many successful athletes learn to lean into their unique cognitive style while developing strategies to mitigate downsides.
Lessons for Executives and Founders
The strategies elite athletes use to channel ADHD into peak performance can be useful for executives and founders with ADHD. Like Olympic-level sports, the business world demands intense focus, creative problem-solving, and performance under pressure—all areas where the ADHD brain can shine.
Key takeaways include:
- Recognize ADHD traits as potential strengths, not just challenges.
- Create environments that allow for hyperfocus and creative thinking.
- Build a team that complements your strengths and supports you in areas where you may need support.
- Be open about ADHD needs and challenges with key team members.
- Lean into high-energy periods to develop personalized systems to manage organization and time.
- Get proper diagnosis and treatment—unmanaged ADHD can derail even the most talented individuals.
- Build-in recovery time.
By understanding and embracing the unique wiring of the ADHD brain, executives and founders can transform stumbling blocks into stepping stones for success. Just as Olympic athletes channel ADHD into record-breaking performances, business leaders can harness these traits to drive innovation, tackle complex problems, and thrive in high-pressure environments.
The stories of these Olympians remind me that living and thriving with ADHD isn't just about overcoming challenges—it's about recognizing and cultivating unique strengths.
As Seidel puts it, "This is what makes me me. It allows me to process things really quickly. It allows me to do the sport I love. It makes me feel like the fullest version of myself."
Are you ready to unleash your ADHD superpowers?
Like Olympic athletes and successful founders, you, too, can transform your ADHD into a competitive advantage. Ready to unlock your full potential and thrive under pressure? Let’s talk.
