2024 BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS (OLYMPIC TRIALS)
- Tuesday, April 2nd – Sunday, April 7th
- London Aquatics Centre
- LCM (50m)
- British Swimming Olympic Selection Policy
- Meet Central
- SwimSwam Preview #1
- Entries
The 2024 British Swimming Championships are nearly upon us with the competition representing the sole qualification opportunity for swimmers to add their names to the roster for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Action begins on April 2nd and one of the key athletes to watch on the men’s side is Olympic champion James Guy.
28-year-old Guy is entered in the 100m free, 200m free and 100m fly in his bid to qualify for his 3rd consecutive Olympic Games appearance.
But the road to now hasn’t been an easy one, as the 28-year-old reflects on his ADHD diagnosis in the context of his athletic career.
Guy was diagnosed 4 years ago and continues to balance his affliction with life in and out of the pool.
According to Psychology.org, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention (not being able to keep focus), hyperactivity (excess movement that is not fitting to the setting) and impulsivity (hasty acts that occur in the moment without thought).
ADHD is considered a chronic and debilitating disorder and is known to impact the individual in many aspects of their life including academic and professional achievements, interpersonal relationships, and daily functioning. (Psychology.org)
Guy spoke to BBC Sport recently, saying, “At around the age of 15 I was put in study support lessons for extra help at school because I wasn’t the brightest guy in the world.
“I found things difficult to understand and needed the teacher to repeat themselves four times, just to soak it in.
“I felt left out. My friends would laugh and take the mick. I didn’t take notice of it because they were my best mates, but it was quite embarrassing.
“In my day-to-day life, I can be very easily distracted,” he said. “I’ll start one job, not finish it, do another thing, and not finish it. I’m trying my hardest, but I can’t help it at all.”
As ADHD relates to the pool, Guy said, “I find it hard to sit still and I have to be doing something all the time and that is why swimming is really good for me,” he stated.
“When I go home, because I’m so mentally tired, I can sit on the sofa and relax. (BBC Sport)
At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Guy earned gold as a member of GBR’s men’s 4x200m free relay, silver on the men’s 4x100m medley relay and gold on the mixed medley relay.
Interesting article on Peaty too:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/mar/24/adam-peaty-it-takes-huge-wisdom-to-feel-grateful-for-what-we-have?fbclid=IwAR1av29qZbzlhsONE_EgWkB4wD6LI2T4Ni15lw5JGLEwXzFZB1EnlDgNr_4_aem_Adt_8BUkxiaMUET7tziTBKcFdT478BsUbVsjkfuypP7hm6q4vgeY0lyyRsCwZIqInnw
Hope he also makes the team.
I’m surprised there isn’t an article on Adam’s interview on this site.
Always great to see athletes voicing diagnoses and bringing attentions to illnesses or conditions to the general public. Hoping Jimmy makes the team for the Olympics would love to see him and Duncs get the 2 x 200 free spots two of my favourites.
Lol c’mon
Himmy Guy my goat
Always great to see such candid interviews from athletes – A real sign an athlete is in a great place physically and mentally. Good luck to James next week.
I’m having a tough time buying into this. I am not saying this is not serious or non-debilitating. Its just nothing like a Nathan Adrian or Eric Shanteau ot Rikako Akee health story
That’s not at all the point of the article.
Agreed
nice opinion to share. ADHD is pretty tough man. Society is still having a tough time being serious removing stigma from any health story
No one is suggesting it is!
Mental health is health. And ADHD can be debilitating for many people. The point isn’t to compare to others. The point is to raise awareness and share his personal story.
I relate hard to what he said
I don’t know that much about James Guy but probably if its was diagnosed late he didn’t have a co morbidity like Dyslexia which about 30 percent of ADHD folks have.
I was (finally) diagnosed last year after years of suspecting I had it. I do have anxiety as well, which is a common comorbidity. Swimming makes sense to me- the repetition helps me focus. Staring at a black line for hours may bore some people, but I have entire conversations going on in my head while I’m swimming.
Exact same situation here, wow.
Google “Michael Phelps ADHD”
Guess his story got buried in the media