11-time Olympic medal-winning American gymnast Simone Biles is diagnosed with neurodivergent disorder ADHD as people are mistaking her for an autistic athlete.
After the success of Simone Biles in the Olympics, people on social media sites have started talking about her personal life, including her mental health as well as her ADHD diagnosis.
As Simone Biles shared her struggle with having neurodevelopmental disorders, many thought she might be autistic, as both ADHD and ASD (Autism spectrum disorder) share some common symptoms.
People with ADHD and ASD both go through sensory differences, intense focus on specific interests, rejection sensitivity, executive dysfunction, sleep issues, and emotional dysregulation.
Similarly, ADHD and autism frequently co-occur. According to some research, people with one of the two diagnoses show elevated traits of both ADHD and autism.
So, it might be a chance Simone Biles has some autistic symptoms; however, she has not confirmed herself to have an autistic diagnosis yet.
Simone Biles Proved That ADHD Is Not a Problem but Can Be a Key to Great Success!
Since people with ADHD often suffer from focusing, time management, organization, and emotional issues, many tend to believe they have difficulties receiving success in the future.
However, due to hyperfocus ability on specific tasks, many ADHD or ASD people have become world-famous through their unique talents and skills.
We have had so many messages from children saying they are no longer embarrassed or ashamed to tell their friends they have ADHD & that they take medication to “Help me” – because they have heard about @Simone_Biles THANK YOU Simone – your example has helped so many children 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/GtDmz0p2Ev
— The Neurodiversity Charity ADHD Foundation (@ADHDFoundation) August 6, 2021
One example is Simone Biles, who won 30 World Championship medals as an artistic gymnast and became the most decorated gymnast in history.
Biles also suffered from various mental health issues and trauma due to ADHD; however, she learned to take control of it or use it for her growth in sports.
Her hyperfocus ability became one of the major reasons behind her success in her gymnastic career.
She has become a prominent advocate for mental health awareness, especially after she decided to withdraw from several events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to prioritize her well-being.
According to her statements, ADHD or ASD has the power to make us resilient or to wear us down.
She mentioned in one of her Twitter posts that she’s not ashamed of her ADHD, stating:
“Having ADHD, and taking medicine for it is nothing to be ashamed of nothing that I’m afraid to let people know.”
Similarly, as we hear many journalists reporting Autistic diagnoses or neurodivergent issues, people committing horrific crimes, it is cited as part of the perpetrator profile.
This has led many to believe neurodivergent people tend to commit horrific crimes; however, this is not the case. Many people with neurodivergent problems have contributed to great work for the world.
For ADHD Awareness Month, this Sunday we are celebrating Simone Biles, an American gymnast who has won seven Olympic medals. She is also the gymnast with the most World medals, with 25. pic.twitter.com/ZJKeqPvgEB
— Centre for ADHD & Autism Support (Reg No: 1193799) (@ADHDandAutism) October 8, 2023
In conclusion, we cannot justify or explain violence by citing mental health distress caused by exclusion.
Similarly, Simone Biles’s career has inspired many ADHDer women, and she proves that Neurodivergent people are capable of greatness.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, U.S., Simone Arianne Biles Owens, aka Simone Biles, is the greatest Olympian and gymnast of all time.
- In 2024, Simone Biles received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then-President Joe Biden.
- She broke the 90-year-old U.S. Gymnastics Alfred Jochim title record and won the eighth U.S. Gymnastics title.
- Simone Biles started training for gymnastics at age 14; however, she first tried gymnastics when she was 6 years old during a day-care field trip.
