How high energy, hyperfocus, and low tolerance for the mundane can boost sports performance.
Before Molly Seidel became an Olympic medal-winning marathoner, she was a high school student in Wisconsin, just trying to survive pre-calculus. She credits passing the class to a teacher who allowed her to walk around during lessons. “My brain works better when I’m moving,” Seidel, now 29 and a professional runner with Puma in Flagstaff, Arizona, recalls.
Unbeknownst to her teacher, Seidel had ADHD—a neurodevelopmental disorder typically marked by hyperactivity, compulsive behaviors, and difficulty focusing. Neither Seidel nor her parents, coaches, teammates, friends, or doctors were aware of her condition until February 2022, when a therapist with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee noticed some signs.
“I thought, I can’t have ADHD, I’m not like that,” Seidel says.
Until then, Seidel had already earned numerous accolades in sports, including multiple NCAA Division I cross-country and track championships, a bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and setting the American women’s record at the New York City Marathon in 2021. Reddit fans dubbed her “America’s distance sweetheart,” and fellow athletes called her a hero.
ADHD hadn’t held her back; it seemed to fuel her success.
If I’d been diagnosed with ADHD as a kid and immediately put on medication, I don't think I'd be an Olympic athlete,” Seidel says. For her, running was like medicine. “When I started running, I realized this makes my brain work in a way I never thought possible.
Understanding ADHD's Role in Athletic Performance
Experts are beginning to recognize ADHD as a brain difference that can cause frustrating symptoms but also notable strengths, particularly for athletes. Like society's evolutionary "hunters," individuals with ADHD excel at quickly switching contexts,
channeling bursts of energy to achieve goals, and hyperfocusing. “It’s not so much an attention deficit as it is selective attention,” says Mimi Winsberg, MD, psychiatrist and chief medical officer at Brightside Health.
Seidel isn’t alone in her ADHD-enhanced athleticism. Olympic legends like Michael Phelps and Simone Biles are part of this group. Research indicates that ADHD might be more common in high-level athletes, with one review finding its prevalence to be at least 8 percent among college and elite athletes, compared to about 2.5 percent in the general adult population.
The actual number might be even higher, as many studies only account for those who openly take medication for their condition. Athletes like Olympic gold medal-winning shot putter Michelle Carter, diagnosed with ADHD in childhood, have never used medication. Others, like Seidel, excelled in their sport long before realizing they had ADHD.
In my world, Carter says, “ADHD is kind of normal.”
ADHD in Female Athletes
ADHD can manifest differently in female athletes, who may channel hyperactivity and perfectionism through high-performance sports. However, challenges arise when hyperfocus leads to being late for practice, or excess energy results in injury and burnout. Depression, substance use disorders, and other mental illnesses often co-occur with ADHD, complicating the picture.
Athletes like Seidel and Carter see their ADHD as integral to their identity. “I’ve thought about what kind of person I would be without ADHD so many times,” says Carter, who now runs the mentorship program You Throw Girl. “It’s part of my creativity and personality—I think it adds flair to my life.”
ADHD is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, often affecting daily life. It’s an executive dysfunction disorder, involving differences in brain areas like the prefrontal cortex, which regulates attention and emotion. The ADHD brain also has impaired neurotransmitter activity, impacting stress, motivation, and reward-seeking behavior.
ADHD often manifests differently in women, who are more likely to be in the inattentive category, which looks like disorganization, depression, perfectionism, or procrastination. Socialization also plays a role, as girls and women are often encouraged to “mask” their symptoms with more “put together” behaviors, leading to frequent underdiagnosis.
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Spotting ADHD in Female Athletes
Olympic gold medalist Allysa Seely, diagnosed with ADHD around age 30, describes feeling a constant “buzzing” in her body and mind, with little patience for small talk. Seely, 35, who won gold in both the Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro Paralympics, illustrates how ADHD influenced her need for structure and multitasking. “I want 10 million things going on, but if one thing changes, everything falls apart,” she says.
Harnessing ADHD's Unique Strengths in Sports
ADHD can be an advantage in sports. Quick decision-making on the basketball court, intense focus in the pool, and high energy in the ice rink are all beneficial. Alli Matlesky, who trained for her first triathlon in eight weeks during the pandemic, found that the sport gave her an outlet for her energy and a focus for her ADHD.
Running up to 130 miles a week, Seidel finds marathon training to be her ideal activity. “I’m either preparing to run or running, and for most people, that would sound like hell. But there’s nothing I’d rather be doing.”
The Challenges of ADHD in Athletics
However, ADHD can also be a double-edged sword. Excess energy can lead to injury and burnout, and hyperfocus on one goal can result in neglecting other aspects of life. Emotional reactions can cause issues with referees, coaches, or teammates. Proper diagnosis and management are crucial for athletes to harness the positive aspects of ADHD while mitigating its challenges.
Medication and Management for ADHD
Stimulant medications like Adderall and Ritalin can help manage ADHD symptoms by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters. Seidel described Adderall as “life-changing,” giving her the quiet, functioning brain she needed. However, many athletes resist medication due to stigma, bans on stimulants in competition, and fear of losing their ADHD-driven edge.
Nonstimulant medications and nonpharmacological treatments, such as psychotherapy, the FDA-approved video game EndeavorRx, and neurofeedback therapy, offer alternative options. Seidel favors mindfulness techniques, meditation, breath work, and naps to manage her symptoms.
The Superpower of ADHD
Despite the challenges, many athletes with ADHD view their condition as a superpower. Seidel reflects, “It allows me to process things quickly and do the sport I love. It makes me feel like the fullest version of myself.”
the takeaway
ADHD can be both a gift and a curse for athletes. With proper management, they can harness its strengths to achieve remarkable success in their sports. As understanding of ADHD continues to grow, more athletes will be able to navigate its challenges and capitalize on its benefits, turning what was once seen as a disorder into a powerful advantage.
FAQs
Can ADHD be an advantage in sports?
Yes, ADHD can enhance focus, energy, and quick decision-making, which are beneficial in many sports.How does ADHD manifest differently in female athletes?
Are there non-medication treatments for ADHD?
Why might athletes resist ADHD medication?
How can athletes with ADHD manage their symptoms?