About this episode

The episode discusses the stigma surrounding ADHD athletes and offers insights on how to better support them in sports.

Why do so many ADHD athletes get labeled as "too emotional," "not paying attention," or "badly behaved" when the reality is something completely different? In this episode of The Thinklete Podcast , Derek and Aleka are joined by Thinklete mentor Janie Kokakis —former Division I track athlete, speech-language pathologist, and ADHD parent—to have an honest conversation about the stigma surrounding ADHD athletes. Together, they discuss: Why emotional outbursts aren't a sign of weakness or bad parenting The hidden strengths of ADHD athletes and why they often care the most How executive functioning impacts sports performance Why visualization should include mistakes—not just success The importance of accountability, emotional regulation, and resilience How parents and coaches can better support neurodivergent athletes without taking away their love of the game Whether you're a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode will challenge common misconceptions and give you practical insights into helping ADHD athletes build confidence, manage pressure, and thrive both on and off the field. If you've ever felt judged because your child struggles emotionally…

Topics covered

• ADHD
• sports performance
• emotional regulation
• neurodivergent athletes
• parenting
• coaching

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