The dumb jock stereotype might be a struggle for athletic students, but it’s even tougher when all-star athletes have to battle dyslexia. The learning disability affects the ability to read and understand texts, making it tough to get good grades, pass important tests, and even read playbooks.
Still, these famous boxers, NBA stars, football players, and other world-class athletes have been able to thrive. Although many were labeled dumb in school, they developed coping mechanisms and other outlets that allowed them to shine.
Some of these athletes were diagnosed with the disorder when they were young, while others did not know that they were dyslexics until adulthood. One famous basketball player says that dyslexia cause him to push harder to prove himself.
Who is the most famous dyslexic athlete? Muhammad Ali tops our list. As a teen, Cassius Clay struggled with high school. "Many of my teachers labeled me dumb," he said. "I could barely read my textbooks."
Tim Tebow also has dyslexia. He says, "You can be extremely bright and still have dyslexia. You just have to understand how you learn and how you process information. When you know that, you can overcome a lot of the obstacles that come with dyslexia."
Is your favorite sports star among these famous athletes with dyslexia? Find out below!
http://www.ranker.com/list/athletes-who-are-dyslexic/people-in-sports,
Bruce Jenner
Olympian/Kardashian patriarch, Bruce Jenner, said of his dyslexia... "If I wasn't dyslexic, I probably wouldn't have won the Games. If I had been a better reader, then that would have come easily, sports would have come easily... and I never would have realized that the way you get ahead in life is hard work."
Carl Lewis
Olympic champion Carl Lewis reportedly has dyslexia and ADHD.
Dexter Manley
In school, former Redskins defensive end Dexter Manley struggled with reading due to dyslexia.
Magic Johnson
"The looks, the stares, the giggles... I wanted to show everybody that I could do better and also that I could read," said former Laker Magic Johnson said of growing up with dyslexia.
Greg Louganis
Growing up, Olympic diver Greg Louganis was bullied for his dyslexia. He figured out that his reading problem was actually dyslexia during his freshman year of college.
Now, he's learned strategies to cope. "When I do public speaking, I have an outline, a list of bullet points. That’s how I manage my public speaking. I always know the stories, so I just want to make sure that I’m guided in such a way that those stories make sense and have logical beginnings, middles, and ends."
Muhammad Ali
As a teen, world champion boxer Cassius Clay (aka Muhammed Ali) struggled with high school. "Many of my teachers labeled me dumb," he said. "I could barely read my textbooks." He was later found to be dyslexic.
Nolan Ryan
Former all star Texas Ranger Nolan Ryan learned that he had dyslexia as an adult. Spelling was his hardest subject in school.
Pete Rose
Baseball Hall-of-Famer Pete Rose overcame dyslexia to win three World Series rings, three batting titles, one Most Valuable Player Award, two Gold Gloves, and a Rookie of the Year Award.
Rex Ryan
Jets coach Rex Ryan on school and dyslexia. "I was embarrassed. How come I was struggling? I'd get a spelling test and it was ridiculous. I couldn't even get in the ballpark. So that was really frustrating."
He wasn't diagnosed until adulthood, when his son tested positive for ADHD.
Tim Tebow
NFL quarterback Tim Tebow has struggled with dyslexia on and off the field. "You can be extremely bright and still have dyslexia. You just have to understand how you learn and how you process information," he said. "When you know that, you can overcome a lot of the obstacles that come with dyslexia."
Tebow discovered that he learns best with flash cards. Instead of attempting to read his playbook over and over, he makes the cards as a way to learn and quiz himself.