“When everyone says you can’t do something, it just shows you that anything is possible.”
Those were the words spoken by Michael Phelps, after he battled back from 7th place, to just out-touch Milorad Cavic, in the 100-meter butterfly. This win was his seventh gold medal in Beijing, tying him with Mark Spitz, the only other Olympian and fellow swimmer, to receive seven gold medals in one Olympics. Last night he won his final race making him the only man to ever win eight gold medals.
However, these words have more significance to this young man than the general public realizes. Phelps, dealing with the challenge of having ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, has overcome the obstacles associated with this neurological condition, to become possibly the greatest Olympian the world has ever seen.
When he was young, there were several people who felt he didn’t have much of a future. He struggled in school and at the age of nine, was diagnosed with the disorder. Nevertheless, his mother, Debbie Phelps, never waivered in her belief in him. His teacher told her that he couldn’t focus or sit still. When his mother questioned if he was possibly bored, the teacher replied, “he’s not gifted.” This devastated the recently divorced mother but she never gave up hope for her son.
When he was diagnosed, he was put on Ritalin. However, when he was eleven years old, he asked his mother if he could stop taking the medication. He felt stigmatized by having to leave class, to take his afternoon dose, in front of his classmates. She respected his opinion enough to abide by this decision and his commitment to control the condition on his own.
Phelps, not only had to deal with ADHD, but with cruel taunts by other kids in regard to his ears. He wore a hat, to minimize their appearance, but others would rip it off his head, to pursue their torment. This hazing probably fueled the future Olympian’s ambitions.
Helping to nurture those aspirations, though, was his coach, Bob Bowman. However, on their initial meeting, these two clashed. In Phelps’ account from his autobiographical book “Michael Phelps; Beneath the Surface”, his first encounter with his future mentor was anything but positive.
According to Phelps, he was a known mischief-maker at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC), where he had followed his older sisters, Hilary and Whitney, into their swimming program. One day, when he entered the locker room, several youths were trashing the place. The newest swim coach, Bowman, came on the scene and immediately assumed that Phelps was the culprit.
This first meeting culminated in a blistering fight, leaving Phelps grateful he wasn’t on Bowman’s team and Bowman happy not to be coaching him. Despite this early impression, they were eventually paired and the rest is history. By the time Phelps was twelve years old, Bowman knew he had the talent to pursue the Olympics.
Even with his athletic ability, overcoming ADHD did not come easy. He often had temper tantrums when things didn’t go his way, especially in the early years with Bowman. Phelps didn’t like losing as well and would throw his goggles and cap, after a race, onto the deck.
His mother, grateful that swimming used up a lot of her son’s energy, came up with behavior cues to help her son with his condition. She would often show him her hand, shaped in the letter “C,” from the stands, to let him know he had to calm down.
Although ADHD is characterized by the inability to pay attention, it doesn’t mean they can’t concentrate on something they’re interested in. When something does capture their notice, they often have a phenomenal ability to tune everything else out but that pursuit. For Phelps, that focus is obviously swimming. His mother (a middle school teacher and administrator) is amazed, despite being unable to sit still in a classroom, he can sit patiently, waiting for hours to race.
On top of his incredible concentration on the sport, what spurs Phelps on is the negative comments made by others. Prior to the 100-meter butterfly race, Cavic stated, “it would be good for Phelps to lose to him.” Phelps heard this and it was the motivating factor, when he summoned the energy needed for his incredible finish, which Spitz remarked was “epic”.
Now Phelps, has bested Spitz, by breaking his record by winning his eighth gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, making him the world’s record holder for most wins at one Olympic game. It will be a tough act to follow.
However, if you ever see a kid displaying behavior that is hyperactive, inattentive or being overly emotional, don’t count them out. That kid could be a future Olympian. Because anything is possible!
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