"No one was entirely surprised" - When Simone Biles reflected on the moment she was diagnosed with ADHD

Simone Biles had opened up about her dealing with ADHD in 2016, when she acknowledged taking medication to help manage the symptoms. Before her debut Olympics in Rio, she applied for a "therapeutic use exemption" through the World Anti-Doping Agency, which allowed her to keep taking the medication she needed for her ADHD while competing at the Games.

In her autobiography Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance, originally published in 2016, Biles has reflected on the moment when she was diagnosed with ADHD, stating it wasn't surprising.

"Back at school, teachers had started talking to my parents about my lack of concentration in the classroom," she wrote. " It seemed that any little thing—a bird flitting by outside, footsteps in the hallway, one student whispering to another at the back of the room—was enough to distract me from what the teacher was saying. Near the end of the school year, my dad made an appointment to have me tested. Given how hyper and energetic I’d always been as a little kid, no one was entirely surprised when it turned out I had ADHD."

However, she further highlighted that despite having ADHD she was able to concentrate intensely and perform well in gymnastics.

"The funny thing was, even with ADHD, when it came to gymnastics, I could be laser focused," she added.

Simone Biles secured five medals during her debut Games at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Simone Biles attends the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix's "Simone Biles Rising: Part 2" in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Getty Images)

Simone Biles displayed an exceptional performance at the 2016 Rio Games, which happened to be her debut at the quadrennial Games.

She bagged five medals, including four gold and a bronze at the Rio edition. Biles surpassed her fellow teammate Aly Raisman and secured a gold medal in the individual all-around event. She also contributed to her team's success in winning a gold medal alongside Raisman, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, and Gabby Douglas.

The legendary gymnast won two more gold medals in the vault and floor routine events. She further bagged a bronze medal in the balance beam event, finishing third-best to Sanne Wevers and Hernandez.

So far Biles has secured seven gold, and two silver and bronze medals each at the Olympic circuit. Following her 2024 Paris Olympic heroics, Simone Biles became the decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast.