In 2008 at the Beijing Olympics, Michael Phelps amazed the world by winning eight gold medals in swimming. The fact that he has ADHD just made it that much sweeter for those of us who share Michael Phelp’s diagnosis.
Phelps has said that he started swimming at age seven (shortly after his diagnosis of ADHD) partly because of his sisters, but also to help channel the abundance of energy he had.
Now another Olympic gold medal winner has opened up about his ADHD. Adam Kreek, an Olympic rower, also won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. And like Michael Phelps, Kreek sought out rowing as a way to burn off his excess energy, saying
“Anyone with ADHD can train their mind to control the incredible energy people with ADHD have,” said Kreek, who describes himself as a high energy child who had trouble concentrating. “I found rowing to be an outlet to control my ADHD.”
Kreek, who has a degree from Stanford in geotechnical engineering and hydrology, has decided to speak out
about ADHD in order to shed a more positive light on it and to remove some of the stigma associated with it.
It’s always wonderful when a positive role model who happens to have ADHD decides to share their experience with others. I think as parents of ADHD kids we are especially appreciative.
Your child may not ever be an Olympic athlete, but I think that the experience of team activities such as sports is good for them in so many ways.
Hi guys. I say that Ohno is a talented ice skater. It is just amazing how the American athletes greatly act because of the tension they face.
It is just amazing how our athletes greatly act under the tension they have to face. Go USA!
I have been enjoying the winterolympics the last days. We went to check out the hockey game USA Canada last week and it was just a awesome experience! USA won the game but unfortunally messed up the big final…
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