She was diagnosed with ADHD at 16 in the US, thought she'd grown out of it, then diagnosed again in her 20s after the pandemic pulled the routine out from under her. In this episode, former GB tag rugby player and Tag Rugby World Cup bronze medallist Sophia Prout joins Meryem to talk about masking, rejection sensitivity dysphoria and the "shame spirals," and the striking contrast between the coaching environment that made her question everything and the one where she thrived and medalled.
Sophia is business manager at Neurodiverse Sport and co-founder of Women in Tag Rugby, which she helped set up. She and Meryem also get into burnout warning signs, the under-researched link between hormones and ADHD, and what a traits-based approach to inclusion in sport actually looks like.
What This Episode Covers
- Sophia's ADHD diagnosis, twice over, in two different countries
- Why so many women and girls are missed or misdiagnosed
- The exact coaching differences between the team where she struggled and the team where she won bronze
- Rejection sensitivity dysphoria and managing the internal critical voice
- Founding Women in Tag Rugby, from see-through World Cup kit to real change in shorts sizing
- Recognising burnout before it hits, and giving yourself permission to rest
- Her advice to her younger self
Guest: Sophia Prout
Sophia Prout is Business Manager at Neurodiverse Sport and a former international tag rugby player who represented Great Britain from 2019 to 2024, winning bronze at the 2023 Tag Rugby World Cup. Drawing on 15 years in science communication and her lived experience of ADHD, Sophia advocates for greater understanding and support-particularly for women. She is also passionate about making sport more equitable and inclusive and co-founded Women in Tag Rugby to amplify underrepresented voices in the sport.
Timestamps
0:00 – Diagnosed Twice, Two Countries
4:07 – Masking and Speaking Up
6:49 – GB Coaching Gap
19:19 – Rejection Sensitivity and Self-Talk
27:05 – The See-Through Shorts Story
35:56 – Hyperfocus, Pressure and Authenticity
45:45 – Recognising the Burnout Cycle
52:20 – Neurodiverse Sport and Advice
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A video podcast exploring neurodivergence through conversations with lived and professional experience. Brought to you by Dyscourse - changing minds and empowering differences around neurodivergence: https://dyscourse.org
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