hyper focus and its assiciated deep stare is what many if not most talented athletes do to get themselves mentally ready for an event. Many have quirky body routines before preforming. If you can not hyper-focus to an extreme degree you will not become an elite athlete.
The above means probably more elite athletes are on the spectrum especially in solo sports like swimming then the general population. If hypothetically elite athletes in solo sports are 5 times more likely to be autistic then the general population then 90 percent of elite athletes in solo sports are not autistic.
Phelps shows no public signs of ackward or unusual social presentation.
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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman