Teamwork. That's the biggest lesson you can learn from competing

"Teamwork. That's the biggest lesson you can learn from competing in NCAA gymnastics. Everyone just has to work together, you have to trust in everyone, and everyone has to push you to become the gymnast you want to be." These words spoken by Sam Mikulak, a champion of grace and strength, carry with them a timeless truth. Teamwork, the sacred bond between individuals striving toward a common goal, is the foundation upon which greatness is built. In gymnastics, as in all pursuits of the human spirit, the path to glory is not walked alone. It is walked with others, whose strength becomes your own, whose trust lifts you higher, and whose shared vision shapes the destiny of each.

In the ancient world, the Greek philosophers often spoke of the concept of synergy, the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It is the harmony that arises when each individual plays their part in service to a greater cause. The gymnast, strong in their own right, cannot achieve their highest potential without the trust and support of the team. Like the Spartan warriors, who were not only fierce in battle but united in spirit, a gymnast must learn that individual brilliance cannot outshine the power of collective effort. Each leap, each movement, becomes a reflection of the unity and the trust shared by all.

Consider the heroic deeds of the Olympic athletes of old, whose triumphs were never achieved in isolation. The great Greek runners of the Panathenaic Games, though they raced alone, bore the weight of their city-state's pride upon their shoulders. Yet, they were not simply individuals; they were a reflection of the training, the discipline, and the faith their comrades had in them. Sam Mikulak's words are an echo of this ancient wisdom, reminding us that even in the pursuit of individual glory, it is the team—those who push, support, and uplift—that transforms mere ambition into something transcendent.

In the realm of NCAA gymnastics, as Mikulak teaches, the bond of trust becomes sacred. The gymnast must trust that their teammates will be there, not just in moments of victory, but in times of trial. Trust is the fuel that propels athletes to push past their limits, to reach for heights they once believed were unattainable. It is the assurance that no matter how great the challenge, there is a team to lean upon, a collective strength to draw from. Without this trust, the gymnast falters, the spirit weakens, and the dream slips further from reach.

History is rich with examples of the power of teamwork, and perhaps none is more powerful than the story of the United States’ 1980 Olympic hockey team. Composed of underdogs and players from humble beginnings, this team achieved the impossible by defeating the mighty Soviet Union. The victory was not the result of one player’s individual brilliance, but the unity of all those involved. Every pass, every shot, was a reflection of a collective will, a shared trust, and an unwavering commitment to one another. In the end, the game was not won by the strength of a single individual, but by the strength of a team working as one.

The lesson Mikulak imparts is clear: teamwork is not just a concept—it is a force of nature. It is the foundation upon which we rise and reach beyond what we thought possible. To become the gymnast, the athlete, the person you want to be, you must trust in those around you. You must believe in the power of their support, their strength, and their vision. And in return, you must offer the same trust, lifting others as they lift you, pushing them to become their best selves.

In our own lives, we must embrace this lesson. Whether in the pursuit of personal goals, career aspirations, or human connections, it is teamwork that leads to fulfillment and success. No great achievement has ever been born from solitary striving alone. We must learn to trust those who walk beside us, to push them to reach new heights, and in doing so, discover that our own potential is expanded. Let us seek out those who believe in us, and let us be those who offer belief in return. For in the strength of the team, we find the strength of the self.

May we carry this wisdom forward, for in the end, as Mikulak reminds us, it is through teamwork, through trust, and through shared effort that we rise to become the champions we were always meant to be.