Attention Deficit Disorder Gold!
Michael Phelps, the greatest Olympian ever!
In 2000, just before his 15th birthday, Michael became the youngest swimmer to make the U.S. National Olympic Team since 1932. In 2001, he became the youngest man ever to set a world record in his sport.
Still truckin’, in the 2003 U.S. Spring National Championships, he won the 200-meter backstroke, 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly - the first man to triumph in three different strokes in one national event! Later in this same year, Michael set five world records while winning six medals at the World Championships in Barcelona. Oh, and he received the Sullivan Award too!
But that’s not all … At the 2004 Olympics, Michael Phelps competed in 8 events and won 6 gold medals and 2 bronze! This eight-medal triumph matched him with gymnast Aleksandr Dityatin, who had achieved the same count at the 1980 Moscow Games.
By 2004, Michael had already accomplished a lifetime of achievement, but with all his adhd tenacity, he continued on, heading into the 2008 Olympics determined to win more. And he did win more! On Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Michael won the men’s 200-meter butterfly, and only an hour later, as his malfunctioning goggles filled with water, Michael lifted the U.S. freestyle relay team to victory, becoming the winningest athlete in Olympic history with 11 gold medals! And there’s still more events to go!
“I’m lost for words. Growing up I always wanted to be an Olympian,” Phelps said. “To be the most decorated of all time sounds weird. I’m speechless. It started to sink in after the butterfly. I was trying to focus on my next race but kept thinking ‘wow, greatest of all time’. That’s pretty cool.”
Yes! I said adhd just a moment ago … Michael Phelps has adhd. And this is more than just an adhd success story, it’s a story of human triumph that proves adhd doesn’t have to hold you back if you choose to not let it, and that those who don’t understand the “disorder”, have a long way to go. Listen to what his mother had to say in the Times Online:
“In kindergarten I was told by his teacher, ‘Michael can’t sit still, Michael can’t be quiet, Michael can’t focus,’ ” recalls Debbie, a teacher for 22 years. “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.”
From the same article, Michael’s coach, Bob Bowman helps shed a new light on “hyper-focus” when he says:
“He’s had the same mental approach since he was very young. There is nothing on his mind. He’s able to block everything out.”
And Michael adds, “Sure, I can disappear when I have to.”
Yep! Those little things that make us adders different, also provide great benefit in many circumstances.
Michael is a true success story to anyone … but even more to those with adhd. Go Michael! Go!
“You can’t put a limit on anything,” says Michael Phelps. “The more you dream, the farther you get.“
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