To much of the ADHD community, Michael Phelps’s phenomenal swimming at the Bejing Summer Olympics is a beacon of pride and hope. For all the advances in diagnosing and treating ADHD, it remains greatly stigmatized. In chat rooms and bulletin boards people post items like “ADHD is not a disability” as a way of giving support to those who are living with it. Yet, after we watch Michael Phelps, his fierce determination and single-minded focus, it is clear that even the name Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder falls short in describing just what ADHD is. Clearly Michael Phelps has no shortage of attention!
Many people have no idea that Michael Phelps has ADHD, yet he hasn’t kept it a secret. In an August 13, 2008 TimesOnline article, his mother is quoted as saying, “In kindergarten I was told by his teacher, ‘Michael can’t sit still, Michael can’t be quiet, Michael can’t focus.’ I said, maybe he’s bored. The teacher said that was impossible. “He’s not gifted,” came back the reply. “Your son will never be able to focus on anything.”
How many people with ADHD are told just that – you’ll never be able to focus on anything! Obviously after Michael Phelps’s summer of 2008 performance, it’s clear that ADHD does not have to stop you from focusing on and reaching your dreams.
Today let’s take a page from Michael’s book and channel our passions. If we do, imagine what we can accomplish. As his coach, Bob Bowman, says, “One of the things I call Michael is the motivation machine. Bad moods, good moods, he channels everything for gain. He’s motivated by success, he loves to swim fast and when he does that he goes back and trains better. He’s motivated by failure, by money, by people saying things about him … just anything that comes along he turns into a reason to train harder, swim better. Channelling his energy is one of his greatest attributes.”
Congratulations Michael on your gold bonanza. And thank you for providing the ADHD community a role model that shatters all of our sterotypes!
Now it’s your turn, what motivates you to succeed?
Note from Edge: September 5, 2008:
Take the Edge poll, leave a comment and enter for a chance to win. Find out more on this month’s blog: Take the ADHD Success Poll
14 responses so far ↓
1 Dan // Aug 16, 2008 at 5:06 pm
I couldn’t agree more. Michael Phelps is a constant reminder that us folks with AD/HD can win a lot of races, figuratively and literally. He is an inspiration!!!
2 Dharmesh // Aug 17, 2008 at 2:18 am
“Do not underestimate anyone” - you never know what gift one possess…..
3 Danielle // Aug 19, 2008 at 2:48 pm
My son is 7 and is suffering bad self esteem from his school telling him he will not amount to much. Every time Michael Phelps is on tv I drag him iinto the living room and show him what can be acheived. ADHD is not a deficit in my opinion but an addition in people. These kids have something extra that ordinary folk do not have and I wolud not want it any other way!!
4 cest moi // Aug 20, 2008 at 4:31 pm
When I was a young student, all my notebooks were blank, I hardly did any homework and my daydreaming always occupied my boring moments. My daydreams even continued from the last episode of my last one. I was expelled in Grade 7. It was in a new school where I competed against other schools in oratory, declamation , impromptu speaking where I found myself getting all the golds and first places. It was amazing! Yet I hardly coped with school–I did read a lot though. IT was later on when I discovered it was probably ADHD that I had. I am from Asia where there is little sympathy for these mental conditions. Hurrah for Michael Phelps and others like him.
5 Sweet, Sweet Wednesday Link Love | Kelby Carr // Aug 20, 2008 at 6:33 pm
[…] The Edge Foundation blog features a great post about how Michael Phelps proves ADHD is not attention deficit! […]
6 Betsy Conron // Aug 21, 2008 at 11:54 am
My 11 year old adorable son has ADHD. I’d be happy if he just focused long enough in class to hear the homework assignment! I suppose if one little boy with ADHD can grow up to be the Olympic swimming champ, my little guy can find something that fires him up enough to hold his attention!
7 Margo King // Aug 22, 2008 at 5:10 am
I congradulate Michael Phelps on his achievements. People like him inspire us to continue. I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 32 when I returned to college 8yrs ago. I encourage those who believe they have this disorder to do the same so you can achieve your dreams.It helped me to know and learn how to deal with it. I graduated with a BA in 2004.
8 Fran // Aug 23, 2008 at 8:21 am
I like to think of it as Attention Discrimination - sure we can focus on things, just not always the things that Others want us to, and just not at the “right” time!
9 Miss Jodi // Sep 5, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I agree. Michael Phelps is a shining example of what people with ADHD can do. It’s so refreshing to see that instead of all of the meeting we go to at school where they tell us over and over what our daughter can’t do.
10 Peter // Sep 12, 2008 at 6:58 am
I don’t see ADHD as not being able to focus as much as difficulty dealing with multiple tasks, and in some cases, being distracted. I’d give a great deal of credit to whoever helped Michael maintain self-esteem, in finding and maintaining his ability to focus on his goals.
11 caitlyn // Sep 23, 2008 at 7:59 am
people like him prove threre is nothing to be asahamed of.hes my hero
12 caitlyn // Sep 23, 2008 at 8:01 am
i have adhd and im proud of it i lov michal phelps
13 Friday’s Links: ADHD and Michael Phelps « Socratic Questions // Oct 3, 2008 at 10:40 am
[…] morning I enjoyed an article on swimmer Michael Phelps from the Edge Foundation. It is titled “Michael Phelps is not an Attention Deficit.” His mother says the […]
14 Raja // Oct 27, 2008 at 7:09 am
Good for people to know.
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