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US sprinting superstar Noah Lyles has opened up about his struggles with a number of conditions as he continues to dominate the track in Paris.
Lyles claimed gold in the men's 100m over the weekend, winning by milliseconds after posting a time of 9.79. The photo finish was one of the most exciting moments of the Olympics so far, and the images will be ed for years to come.
The US star could yet add to his gold medal with another in the men's 200m on Thursday, providing he comes through the semi-finals on Wednesday. Lyles began as a 200m runner and regards the race as his specialty.
Lyles is known as a big personality in the sport, regularly making headlines with his bold personality. He notably called out NBA stars for calling themselves "world champions" despite the fact they only compete in one nation, leading to plenty of backlash on social media and elsewhere.
But Lyles' success cannot be denied, and during this Olympics, he has confirmed his status as the fastest man in the world.
Though, even he is not without his issues, something he highlighted on social media, revealing the conditions and mental challenges he faces.
Lyles tweeted: "I have Asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety, and Depression. But I will tell you that what you have does not define what you can become. Why Not You!"
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common psychiatric disorder in childhood. Chronic in nature and probably genetically transmitted, it is estimated to affect between 5 and 10% of the child population, and many of its symptoms persist into adulthood (about 60% of cases).
ADHD is mainly characterized by a difficulty in maintaining voluntary attention to activities, both academic and everyday, coupled with a lack of impulse control.
"Children with ADHD can have problems at the academic, family and social levels, and the stigma they suffer is very important. It is necessary for the whole of the child's environment to know what their difficulties are in order to help them to cope adequately in their day-to-day lives," emphasizes Fernando Martín del Valle, neuropediatrician at the Vithas Neurosciences Institute at the Vithas Madrid La Milagrosa University Hospital.
Javier Blumenfeld, pediatrician and head of the ADHD consultation at El Escorial Hospital (Madrid), explains that this disorder "is mainly caused by alterations in a region of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, where such important mental functions as concentration, impulse control and short-term memory, also called working memory, are performed".
The main cause is genetic and there is a hereditary component, but "there are many environmental causes that can produce dysfunction in this part of the brain, and therefore, ADHD". Among others, neonatal alterations such as alcoholism or addiction to other drugs during pregnancy, trauma, environmental toxins, meningitis, fetal distress during childbirth.... "In other words, any element that can damage the correct development of the prefrontal cortex can end up causing ADHD," says Blumenfeld.
As mentioned, hyperactivity, impulsivity and attention deficit are key features of this condition. The Spanish Federation of ADHD Associations (Feaadah) warns that although these symptoms are present in many children, the difference lies in the intensity, the inability to control them and the disruptive way in which they appear.
Lyles defended by NBA star
Lyles' comments on the NBA and the "world champions" tag should have seen him make enemies for life within pro basketball, but his achievements at the Olympics in Paris have transcended any bad blood.
With fan s continuing to grill Lyles over his comments, Knicks star Josh Hart came to his defense after the 100m final. Hart tweeted back to a critical NBA fan : "(He's) an Olympic gold medalist. He can talk for life."