In a packed locker room or under the stadium lights, you’d be forgiven for not spotting the signs. But according to sports psychologist Dr. Josephine Perry, as many as one in five elite athletes may have ADHD, and that number could be even higher among amateur players.
“That’s one in five people on a team,” Dr Perry emphasises. It’s a stat that might surprise coaches, fans, and even the athletes themselves. But it’s also a stat that inspired her new book, ADHD in Sport: Strategies for Success, a much-needed guide for athletes, their families, and coaches alike.
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions. It’s typically characterised by difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In sport, those traits can be both a blessing and a challenge.
On one hand, impulsivity and quick decision-making can be an advantage in fast-paced environments. On the other, the struggle to focus, the emotional swings, and the potential for repeated errors in high-pressure situations can throw even the most talented athlete off their game.
“The symptoms of lack of focus and concentration, frustration, and labile mood can impair performance,” says Dr. Perry.
Yet, perhaps one of the most surprising strengths of athletes with ADHD is their ability to hyperfocus. Often misunderstood, hyperfocus is a trait that turns distraction into drive.
“When an ADHD athlete is interested in something, they are 10 steps ahead of the neurotypical brain,” Perry explains. “They’ve already worked out the answers. Telling them what to do just gets in the way. Coaches should steer clear of telling them directly what to do if they seem to be following the right path.”
This unique mental wiring might explain why some of the most decorated athletes in history have thrived not despite ADHD, but because of it.
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, diagnosed with ADHD at age 11, attributes his ability to focus to the pool. “In the water, I felt, for the first time, in control,” he wrote in his autobiography. “I could go fast because being in the pool slowed down my mind.”
Olympic marathon runner Molly Seidel shared a similar experience with Women’s Health: “If I had been diagnosed with ADHD when I was a kid and immediately put on medication, I don’t think I’d be an Olympic athlete.” Running became a form of mental clarity for Seidel, not just a form of exercise.
Dr Perry explains that helping ADHD athletes isn’t just about supporting them, but also about understanding them to advance their sporting abilities.
“With ADHD athletes, you don’t bombard them with instructions. One thing at a time,” she says. “And just because they look like they’re not listening doesn’t mean they aren’t.”
Dr Perry advises that coaches of ADHD athletes should lower expectations around behavior, not performance. ADHD can cause emotional regulation to lag behind by up to three years, meaning that frustration, impulsivity, or “attitude” might not be defiance, but delayed development.
“Sometimes the best thing a coach can do is leave them alone. Let them figure it out. They usually do, and often better than anyone else.”
Dr. Perry’s consultancy, Performance in Mind, helps athletes unlock their full potential by understanding the mental barriers they face. Her motivation for writing ADHD in Sport was both professional and personal.
“My husband has ADHD,” she shares. “So part of this book was written from experience. Once you understand that these traits aren’t wrong , they’re just different, you stop being infuriated, and start being amazed.”
In sport, where mental resilience is as vital as physical strength, this shift in mindset could make all the difference.
For coaches, teammates, and support networks, the message is clear: see the person, not just the diagnosis. ADHD might not follow the rules but when embraced, it just might rewrite them.
