Famous Bipolar People

MICHAEL SLATER - FAMOUS BIPOLAR SPORTSMAN

Michael Slater is a former Australian cricket player. He was born Michael Jonathan Slater in Wagga Wagga on February 21, 1970. He played for the Australian cricket team from for eight years, playing 74 Tests and 42 ODIs. Slater was famous for his right-handed batmanship and bowling skills. He is also a prolific sports presenter and panelist. Slater also attained fame as a reality personality as he participated in a number of sports competitions on television. He kissed his helmet 14 times, that was anytime he scored a century.

Slater started his cricket career at the age of 11 when he was selected as member of the New South Wales Primary School Sports Association cricket and hockey teams. In the school team, he made it to the State Under-12 hockey team and later the Under-13, 15 and 17 teams. He began having problems with academic work as a result of spending less time with his books and more time playing cricket.

 

He was chosen the Under-16 captain when he topped the Under-17 in the previous season. He had an injury at age 17 and had to pause his career for a while. He returned to the pitch after a successful surgery and was selected into the state Under-19 team for the National championship. He became one of the leading scorers in the series of National Under-19 Championships. Slater attended Australian Cricket Academy and went back to New South Wales to play in the Sheffield Shield season. He progressed into the Australian Test Team, where he was chosen for The Ashes Tour of England.

 

Slater shifted his attention to media work after retiring from active field play. He did commentary for Channel 4 during the 2005 Ashes series and later joined the Nine’s Wide World of Sports cricket commentary team in January 2006. Slater contested the Torvill and Dean’s Dancing on Ice in Australia, but was the fourth to be evicted. He became a sports presenter on Weekend Today, a program of the Nine Network.

Michael Slater was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which led to the end of his sports career. He became very emotional on the field of play. He abused and insulted anyone that stepped on his toe. He was once fined for his abusive behavior during a test match with the Indian team. These are signs of a manic depressive person. He was dropped from his team once due to depression. To compound his problem, his team mates also made fun of his quick temper and reactivity.

 

He also suffered Ankylosis Spondylitis somewhere in his playing career. During this period, he was wheelchair bound and could not do anything. That could possibly account for his depression, as the illness has been linked to this condition. He also went through serious marital challenges which could have contributed to his dejected state.

 

The emotional suffering he went through in his childhood could also be a cause of his depression. Slater’s mother left them when he was still young and this had a lot of emotional impact on him.

 

Slater is now off the drugs and is moving on with life.