Chelsea and England defender Lucy Bronze speaks exclusively to Alex Scott about her experience being autistic and living with ADHD.
Lucy's mum, Diane, had long suspected she may be autistic, but it wasn't until four years ago that Bronze was officially diagnosed as being autistic and living with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
Lucy has had outstanding success as a footballer, both at home and abroad, and during this chat she tells Alex how being neurodivergent has impacted her life both on and off the pitch and why some of her differences have been her strengths.
TIMECODES:
1:02 - On being diagnosed as autistic and ADHD four years ago.
3:13 - The process of getting diagnosed
5:00 - On her most notable neurodivergent traits
7:10 - Do her teammates know?
9:20 - Being ‘obsessed’ with football and how her differences have been her strengths.
10:26 - How does it affect her on the football pitch?
12:25 - Masking and copying the behaviours of Jill Scott.
15:54 - Her experiences of playing abroad and being in diverse environments.
16:50 - Being a role model to younger players
19:55 - On the diagnosis helping to understand who she is, not change who she is.
22:25 - Why is she ready to talk about it now?
24:45 - Becoming an ambassador for the National Autistic Society to help with "raising awareness" and "getting rid of the stigma" around it.
