Pommel Horse Guy
It’s no secret that summer is my favorite season. But when summer brings the Women’s World Cup or the Olympics and Paralympics, it becomes something extraordinary.
This summer, while I enjoyed the sunshine, vacations, and time spent with friends, it was the spirit of global competition that was a highlight. Learning about new elite, international athletes and being exposed to sports outside my daily routine added a new layer of excitement.
One of the most awe-inspiring parts of the Olympics and Paralympics is the opening ceremonies. I love seeing the overwhelming number of elite athletes from my own country, but what moves me most are the countries that arrive with just one athlete. Imagine being the sole representative of your entire nation. What a weight to carry—and what a badge of honor.
And then there are the sports I don’t regularly follow. Handball, fencing, goalball—each one showcases incredible skill and discipline. I find myself wondering, “Would I have been good at this sport? Could I have mastered those techniques?”
But beyond the athleticism, what really touches me are the backstories. The challenges, obstacles, and personal sacrifices these athletes have faced—these stories remind me that while these competitors may seem superhuman, they are fully human, too. Their stories draw me in and compel me to cheer not just for their performance but for their journey.
There’s a life lesson in competition that I believe transcends sports: To win at the highest level, you need to know what you’re good at and focus on it.
In my experience with teams, both in athletics and high-performing workgroups, the best know where their strengths lie, and they commit to them. Wheelchair basketball athletes don’t compete in para archery. Cyclists don’t take on equestrian. Soccer players aren’t also on the swim team. The best in the world choose one sport—and within that, they often narrow their focus to just one event.
To compete at the highest level, you have to know your role and own it.
This summer, one athlete stood out to me as the embodiment of this lesson: Stephen Nedoroscik of the U.S. men’s gymnastics team. For the first time in 16 years, the U.S. men’s team brought home a team medal, winning bronze. And Stephen played a big role in that victory—by doing just one event: the pommel horse.
Most high-level gymnasts compete in several events, but the team made a calculated decision: Stephen would focus only on the pommel horse. They knew to bring home a medal, they needed his expertise in that specific event.
For nearly three hours, Stephen sat and watched as his teammates competed in other high-flying events. And then, when it was his time, he rose to the occasion. With the world watching, he delivered a stunning performance on the pommel horse, earning the points his team needed to clinch the medal. His one job was crucial to the team’s overall success.
When everyone plays their role, great things happen. The team came home with a bronze medal, and the internet even gifted them a new trending hashtag: #pommelhorseguy.
Stephen’s story is a powerful reminder that we don’t have to do it all to be successful—we just have to do our part. As much as I like to think I can do anything, I know there are a few things I’m really good at. And when I focus on those skills, the people around me win, too.
What about you? Are you willing to commit to your role—potentially just one role—for the success of those around you?
When you embrace your strengths and dedicate yourself to your unique gifts, everyone benefits.
And who knows, maybe one day you’ll end up with a trending hashtag of your own.
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