{"id":27702,"date":"2022-10-31T17:18:25","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T17:18:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/?p=21122"},"modified":"2024-06-05T21:12:27","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T01:12:27","slug":"29-famous-people-show-how-adhd-does-not-have-to-limit-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/articles\/29-famous-people-show-how-adhd-does-not-have-to-limit-success\/","title":{"rendered":"29 Famous People Show How ADHD Does Not Have to Limit Success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Mary Fetzer<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Clinically reviewed by Dr. Gayle Jensen-Savoie<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In the United States, approximately 60% of children with ADHD become adults with ADHD, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. But of the 8 million adults with ADHD, fewer than 20% have been diagnosed or treated. In many cases, childhood ADHD symptoms like hyperactivity may diminish by adulthood. But other symptoms, such as impulsivity or inattentiveness, may continue.<\/p>\n

Many public figures \u2014 in entertainment, sports, politics, and more \u2014 live very successfully with ADHD. These famous people have gone public with their diagnoses, to show ADHD has not kept any of them from living their best lives.<\/p>\n

Famous Athletes With ADHD<\/h3>\n
Michael Phelps<\/h5>\n

Michael Phelps, a former competitive swimmer and the most decorated Olympian in history, was diagnosed with ADHD at age 9. School was challenging for Phelps, who told People magazine that he found it difficult to sit still and complete his work. He took medication but found that swimming was the best way to alleviate his symptoms. Today, Phelps is a public advocate for mental health therapy, saying that talking to someone changed his life.<\/p>\n

Karina Smirnoff<\/h5>\n

\u201cI’m an adult with ADHD,” Karina Smirnoff told The Saturday Evening Post in 2012. The Dancing with the Stars performer went public with her ADHD diagnosis in 2009.<\/p>\n

As a child, Smirnoff’s parents packed her schedule with activities \u2014 figure skating, dance, ballet, piano \u2014 to provide an outlet for her hyperactivity, but they never had their daughter diagnosed. The national and world champion dancer continued to find ways to cope with her ADHD symptoms because she thought they were just part of who she was.<\/p>\n

Smirnoff was an adult when a friend observed how her ADHD symptoms were impacting her life and finally urged her to see a doctor. The ADHD diagnosis introduced Smirnoff to the help that was available to manage her symptoms, including medication and organizational strategies.<\/p>\n

Simone Biles<\/h5>\n

Simone Biles was forced to go public with her ADHD diagnosis. In 2016, the U.S. gymnast’s medical records were hacked and revealed that Biles had a medical exemption to use a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have ADHD and have taken medicine for it since I was a kid,” Biles wrote from her Twitter account. \u201cPlease know, I believe in clean sport, have always followed the rules, and will continue to do so as fair play is critical to sport and is very important to me.”<\/p>\n

More professional athletes with ADHD:<\/p>\n