This month we’re prepping for the Lumos Intramural Open, our version of the CrossFit Games Open. I’ll be diving into some thoughts around competing and how it shapes us, challenges us, and sometimes causes us to act like absolute goons 🙂

Every Victory is Collective

There’s a myth we love to tell ourselves about competition—the story of the lone champion. The idea that the best of the best rise through sheer force of will, their success a testament to personal grit and unmatched talent. The truth? Every victory is collective. No one reaches the top alone, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling a fantasy.

We glorify individual achievement, but when you look closer, every great competitor, from elite athletes to groundbreaking innovators, has a web of support beneath them. Rivals who push them, coaches who refine them, communities that elevate them. Even so-called “self-made” successes exist within systems and structures that made their ascent possible.

The sooner we shed the myth of the lone champion, the sooner we can embrace the reality that competition, at its core, is a shared effort.

The Invisible Hands Behind Every Victory

No matter how much we want to believe in the lone warrior archetype, the reality is that every success story is a team effort. Take an Olympic gold medalist. Sure, they put in the work, but their journey was shaped by coaches who fine-tuned their technique, training partners who kept them sharp, physical therapists who kept them healthy, and even the competitors who forced them to push their limits.

No athlete gets to the top without people who helped them along the way. And it’s not just athletes—every artist, musician, scientist, and entrepreneur stands on the shoulders of mentors, collaborators, and supporters.

Even beyond direct mentorship, success is built on external structures. The sports leagues that provide a platform for competition. The educational systems that teach us the fundamentals. The networks of people who support us financially, emotionally, and logistically. Every victory is upheld by an invisible scaffolding of assistance.

The Role of Rivals in Success

One of the most overlooked aspects of competition is the role of the rival. We tend to think of our competitors as obstacles—people standing between us and victory. But the truth is, they are often our greatest assets.

Michael Jordan had the Bad Boy Pistons. They pushed him to get stronger, tougher, and more strategic. Without them, he might have been just another talented player. Serena Williams had Venus, a sister and a rival who forced her to bring her best every single time they met on the court. In CrossFit, Mat Fraser became the five-time champion only after a few years of falling short, using his losses as fuel to refine his training and mindset.

Your biggest rival is your best teacher. They expose your weaknesses. They force you to confront your limits. Without them, you don’t grow.

This means that even when you “lose” to someone else, you’re actually winning in the long run—if you’re willing to learn from it. Iron sharpens iron. You don’t become great by avoiding competition; you become great by embracing it.

Shifting from an Individual to a Collective Mindset

Understanding that every victory is collective doesn’t diminish individual effort—it enhances it. It allows you to appreciate the process, rather than getting lost in the illusion of solo achievement.

So if you’re in the thick of competition right now, take a step back. Look around. Acknowledge the people who are making your growth possible—your training partners, your competitors, your mentors, your community.

Real champions don’t just win. They elevate those around them. They recognize that their success is not just their own, and they pay it forward.

The myth of the lone champion is just that—a myth. The reality is far more interesting. Every great competitor is the product of a network of influence, and the best ones don’t just benefit from it—they contribute to it.

When you stand on the podium, or achieve that long-sought-after goal, remember this: You didn’t do it alone. And that’s a good thing.