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ADHD Voices: Breaking the Stigma with Simone Biles

Cover Image for ADHD Voices: Breaking the Stigma with Simone Biles

This Week in “ADHD Voices”

Every week, we bring you a story from someone who’s faced the challenges of ADHD and turned them into strengths. This week’s spotlight is on Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles—a gymnastics icon who showed the world there’s nothing shameful about ADHD.

Simone Biles & ADHD: Turning Challenges Into Superpowers

Simone Biles, a celebrated gymnast, stands with her arms crossed, proudly displaying three Olympic medals around her neck. She wears a blue athletic jacket with the USA logo on the left chest and white and blue stripes on the sleeves. The lanyards of her medals are light blue and bear the text "PARIS 2024" along with Olympic rings. Two of the medals appear to be gold, and one silver. Biles smiles warmly at the camera. The background is a muted teal and light blue, with a glimpse of a patterned surface on the left. The text "PARIS 2024" is visible at the top left of the image. ADHD

Who Is Simone Biles?

Simone Biles is more than just a gymnastics legend—she’s a mental health advocate, Olympic gold medalist, and someone who’s openly lived with ADHD. Diagnosed at a young age, Simone didn’t let ADHD define her. Instead, she turned it into her edge.

Her journey became even more public in September 2016, when hackers exposed confidential medical data showing she took medication for ADHD. Instead of hiding, Simone tweeted proudly:

"Having ADHD, and taking medicine for it is nothing to be ashamed of, nothing that I'm afraid to let people know."

A gymnast, who appears to be Simone Biles based on visual similarity to other images, is captured mid-air during a floor exercise. She is wearing a red, white, and blue long-sleeved leotard with sparkling embellishments. Her body is extended in a wide split, with her arms outstretched for balance. Her hair is pulled back in a high bun. She is barefoot, and her left ankle and lower leg are wrapped in athletic tape. The background is a light beige or off-white mat, bordered by a section of blue flooring. The lighting is bright and even, highlighting the gymnast's athleticism and the dynamic pose.

The Story Behind the Statement

Simone Biles’ response came after a group of Russian hackers breached the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) database. They aimed to accuse her of cheating by revealing she was prescribed methylphenidate (Ritalin), a common ADHD medication.

But Simone had a therapeutic-use exemption, meaning she followed all official procedures. Her response and that of the medical community turned a potential scandal into a teachable moment about ADHD and the importance of destigmatizing mental health.

Medical experts like Dr. Jennifer Ashton said:

“If you had high blood pressure, you would treat it. The more we talk about ADHD as just a medical condition, the less stigma it has to have.”

A vibrant illustration features a prominent close-up of Simone Biles, depicted with stylized features and warm brown skin. She is looking directly at the viewer with a slight pout and determined expression. Around her neck hangs a light blue lanyard with "PARIS 2024" printed on it, supporting a gold Olympic medal. The medal displays the Olympic rings and "PARIS 2024". Biles is wearing a dark blue athletic jacket and a delicate silver necklace with a sparkling charm that resembles a goat. Her hands are raised, one holding the medal's ribbon and the other near her necklace. In the upper right corner, a smaller illustration shows Biles in action, performing a gymnastic move. She is wearing a red, white, and blue leotard reminiscent of the American flag, with her body gracefully arched and arms extended. The background is a bright, light blue filled with various-sized golden stars. The overall style is illustrative and celebratory, likely commemorating Simone Biles' participation in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. ADHD

ADHD Isn’t a Weakness—It’s a Different Strength

ADHD often comes with challenges: difficulty focusing, staying still, or managing time. But it also brings unique strengths—like hyper-focus, creativity, and energy. Simone’s incredible focus during routines is a vivid example of how ADHD can fuel greatness.

Simone Biles joins a group of Olympic athletes like Michelle Carter and Michael Phelps who have ADHD and have used their platforms to educate and inspire.

An infographic titled "How AI can help individuals with ADHD like Simone Biles" presents a central figure of Simone Biles in a dynamic pose, surrounded by various icons and text boxes illustrating different ways AI can aid productivity and address challenges associated with ADHD. These include tools for organization, time management, focus enhancement, learning style adaptation, and managing sensory sensitivities. The layout is radial, with lines connecting the central figure to the surrounding benefits of AI.

How AI Can Help Others With ADHD Like Simone

While not everyone can do flips like Simone, we can all build routines and support systems to thrive with ADHD. AI can be a big part of that.

1. Focus & Structure

  • AI Tool: Motion – Builds a smart daily schedule to beat procrastination.

  • AI Tool: Sunsama – Helps break tasks into focused blocks.

2. Memory Support & Organization

  • AI Tool: Mem.ai – Auto-organizes your thoughts and notes.

  • AI Tool: Notion AI – Summarizes ideas and builds structured notes.

3. Accountability & Consistency

  • AI Tool: Reclaim.ai – Keeps time for habits like journaling or breaks.

  • AI Tool: Focusmate – Work with a live partner for real-time accountability.

These tools don't replace effort—but they do support focus, clarity, and follow-through, which are often difficult for ADHD minds.

A group of six young, diverse individuals are posing closely together, smiling at the camera against a light blue background. Three are wearing bright orange t-shirts, and three are wearing bright teal t-shirts. The t-shirts have slightly distressed, handwritten-style text on them, with the recurring phrase "The the, [something] your story." The text is partially obscured due to the close grouping of the people.

Final Thought: Own Your Story, Like Simone

Simone Biles shows us that success isn’t about “fixing” ADHD—it’s about understanding how your brain works and setting yourself up for success. And with today’s AI tools, that’s more possible than ever.

Her courage to speak up in the face of stigma inspires people worldwide to seek support, talk openly about mental health, and embrace their full selves.

Sources:

Simone Biles ADHD AdvocacyADHD Mental Health StigmaAI Tools for ADHD SupportSuccess Stories ADHD

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