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By the time James Guy turned 24, he had smashed British Swimming records and become a world and European champion. Deep down, though, he still felt something was not quite right.<\/b><\/p>\n
That year, life finally began to make sense for Guy as he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). <\/p>\n
Looking back now as a double Olympic champion, 28-year-old Guy realises that he was never broken. He was just different.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that at least one in seven people in the UK are neurodivergent. This term describes someone who thinks differently because of conditions including autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD.<\/p>\n
While a diagnosis has helped Guy understand himself, growing up without it took a lasting toll.<\/p>\n
“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,” he tells BBC Sport. <\/p>\n
“I found things difficult to understand and needed the teacher to repeat themselves four times, just to soak it in.<\/p>\n
“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.” <\/p>\n
Though his school was accommodating, Guy believes there were not enough resources to identify his ADHD at the time.<\/p>\n
As he entered his 20s, he found his symptoms persisting outside of the educational setting and affecting everyday life. With that returned the longing for an answer.<\/p>\n
“In my day-to-day life, I can be very easily distracted,” he says. “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.<\/p>\n
“Even if Courtney (his fiancee) is talking to me, she’ll say, ‘Are you listening?’ I’d be like ‘Yeah’ and she’d say, ‘Well what did I say?’ and I’m like ‘er\u2026’ – not in a rude way but because my brain diverges.<\/p>\n
“I told my psychologist that I’m either 10 miles an hour ahead or 10 miles an hour behind. There is no in between.”<\/p>\n
In the following four years, a diagnosis has allowed Guy to fully embrace life in the pool with ADHD and for British Swimming to tailor support to his needs.<\/p>\n
“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 says. “When I go home, because I’m so mentally tired, I can sit on the sofa and relax.<\/p>\n
“If Ryan (his coach) is reading something out the first time, it’s never going to go in my brain. I need to physically see it and have it repeated.<\/p>\n
“I love what I do every single day. The thrill you get after having a good session is massive. It’s very rare I have a bad day.”<\/p>\n
Guy will be competing at the British Swimming Championships from 2-7 April, looking to qualify for his third successive Olympics with Team GB.<\/p>\n
And through fostering self-acceptance, the 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly specialist has found ways of using ADHD to his advantage, including winning two golds at Tokyo 2020.<\/p>\n
“If I’m doing something, I always commit to it 100%. It might take me a while to get there, but you’ll do things properly and not half-heartedly which is a valuable tool in everyday life,” he says.<\/p>\n