Phelps’ Focus Returns for Record Breaking 8th Gold Medal
Intense focus on an activity that one is passionate about, an activity that one loves, an activity that brings joy – this ability to hyper focus is a gift many with ADHD have. Though Phelps’ ADHD may have presented some problems within the classroom setting, in the pool he found focus. He found his strength.
23-year-old, Michael Phelps made history last night in the 2008 Beijing Olympics winning his eighth gold medal. He set seven world records and one Olympic record, doing a personal best time in every event. He became the winningest Olympian ever and will leave China with 14 career golds – five more than anyone else with at least one more Olympics to go, London 2012.
After receiving his record breaking eighth gold, Phelps looked to the stands for his mother and sisters. “I don’t even know what to feel right now,” Phelps said. “There’s so much emotion going through my head and so much excitement. I kind of just want to see my mom.”
Making his way through the throngs of people, climbing up the stairs, pulling himself up the railing he embraced his mother – the one who helped him find his great strength and never gave up on him.
For more click on Beijing '08: Live the Olympics
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Thank God Phelp’s mother never gave up on him, and kept looking for ways to help him use his focus in the pool! She ought to get some medals, too! Maybe their story will inspire more parents and children that are dealing with the same issues. And maybe Phelps will decimate any social ostracism that comes with it!
As parents we have such a powerful impact in our children’s lives. We are all human, so we may certainly get frustrated or feel overwhelmed at times…but helping our children discover and nurture their strengths is so, so important. Debra Phelps is, indeed, a good example of this!