Lessons for Lawyers from ‘Mr. Pommel Horse,’ Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik

As the world focuses on the athletic elite competing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, a peculiar star has emerged for Team USA, twisting and turning his way into our hearts.

Affectionately dubbed “Mr. Pommel Horse” or “Pommel Steve,” Stephen Nedoroscik delivered a spectacular routine on the pommel horse that clinched the bronze medal for the U.S. men’s gymnastics team — its first medal in the team competition in 16 years.

While you may not initially draw a comparison between gymnastics and law, the pommel horse virtuoso’s Olympic performance provides many lessons lawyers can use in our quest to solve legal issues and serve our clients.

Lawyers do not get to “bring home the gold” in quite the same fashion as Olympians, but it can feel like we have been training our whole lives for important career moments.

So, mount up as we explore Stephen Nedoroscik as a masterclass in teamwork and focus.

Recognize your passion and stick with it

For those who have missed the hype, Nedoroscik is a pommel horse specialist. He traveled to Paris for Team USA to compete on only one piece of equipment: the pommel horse.

Nedoroscik’s laser focus on the pommel horse has defined his work as a gymnast. Unlike most other gymnasts, Nedoroscik has dedicated himself solely to the pommel horse since high school. This means that he does not compete on any other pieces of apparatus, as most gymnasts do.

He knows what he enjoys and is good at and hones his skills accordingly. This intense focus has catapulted him into one of the best athletes on the pommel horse in the world.

In the legal world, we too can benefit from honing our expertise in specific areas. Developing a niche practice allows attorneys to dive deep into the intricacies of a particular practice area, becoming go-to experts for clients and colleagues alike.

By narrowing your focus, you can stay ahead of evolving legislation, anticipate industry trends, and offer insights that generalists might miss.

Moreover, specialization often leads to a more efficient and effective practice, as you build a repository of relevant case law, develop a network of industry contacts, and streamline your research and strategizing processes.

However, it is crucial to remember that maintaining a broad understanding of related areas of law is essential to legal competency. This broader knowledge base isn’t just about professional well-roundedness, it’s a practical necessity for many practitioners. The legal landscape is ever-changing, and what’s a hot practice area today might cool off tomorrow due to legislative changes, economic shifts, or technological disruptions. Strike a balance between specialization and versatility.

Recognize stress and focus

During the men’s team competition, Nedoroscik waited two and a half hours to compete, using breathing exercises to stay focused as his teammates performed on the vault, floor, rings, and bars.

Then, with only 45 seconds to impress the judges, he channeled what some have likened to a Clark Kent-to-Superman transition, and delivered a medal-worthy performance.

Nedoroscik’s ability to remain calm and perform under pressure is another valuable lesson, as lawyers often face similar high-pressure situations. Whether it is a crucial closing argument or a high-stakes business negotiation, to thrive in intense situations, lawyers must harness the power of stress.

Instead of viewing stress as a threat, embrace it as a challenge that can sharpen your focus and boost your cognitive abilities to help you perform at your best. This mindset shift allows you to tap into the body’s natural stress response, using the surge of adrenaline and cortisol to enhance alertness, decision-making, and critical thinking skills.

Equally important is developing practical strategies to manage and channel stress effectively. A regular practice of mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing exercises and visualization, can help you maintain composure and clarity in high-pressure moments, while also building confidence and reducing anxiety.

Nedoroscik told the Washington Post that he uses visualization “all the time” to imagine his next actions, including delivering a stellar performance on the Olympic stage.

Embrace problems from many angles

In addition to being “Mr. Pommel Horse,” Stephen Nedoroscik is a Rubik’s Cube aficionado. Team USA recently shared a video of him completing a Rubik’s Cube in just over 19 seconds.

Nedoroscik’s passion outside of gymnastics reminds us that branching out into seemingly unrelated skills can actually enhance our primary focus. Think of it as cross-training for the mind. Engaging in a creative activity or having a hobby can make you more productive at work while reminding you that work is not everything

Ironically, the parallels between Rubik’s Cube and legal problem-solving are surprisingly apt. Both require a systematic approach, the ability to see multiple steps ahead, and the flexibility to change strategies when faced with unexpected twists.

Much like issue-spotting in a complex client problem, mastering the Rubik’s Cube demands patience, perseverance, and the willingness to look at problems from different angles.

Just as Rubik’s Cube experts learn to recognize patterns and apply algorithms to navigate the puzzle, lawyers can develop legal frameworks and precedents to tackle complex cases.

And both disciplines benefit from a balance of intuition and analytical thinking. In Cube solving, this might manifest as recognizing a familiar configuration and swiftly applying a memorized sequence of moves. In legal practice, it could involve quickly identifying the key issues in a case and applying relevant statutes or case law.

Finally, both fields reward creativity and lateral thinking. A Cube solver might discover a novel approach to solve a particular configuration more efficiently, while a lawyer might craft an innovative legal argument by drawing unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated areas of law.

Always part of something bigger

Perhaps the most striking aspect of Nedoroscik’s Olympic contributions came in his role as a team player. He was one of the team’s biggest cheerleaders, running around with water bottles and offering support as he waited to perform.

This is a poignant reminder that even in our individual pursuits of legal excellence, we are part of a larger community with a “special responsibility for the quality of justice,” as the Preamble to the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct states.

Appreciate the multifaceted nature of success. Like Nedoroscik, we too can benefit from developing a unique combination of skills. Maybe your pommel horse is being a skilled trial attorney, and your Rubik’s Cube is cycling. Or perhaps you are the contract drafting master with a side passion for gardening.

In the end, Stephen Nedoroscik’s journey and instant fame remind us that success in any field — be it gymnastics, puzzle-solving, or law — comes down to dedication, focus, and a willingness to tackle challenges from multiple angles.

And who knows? With enough practice, you might just stick the landing for your clients and find yourself on the podium of legal excellence, proudly wearing a medal of success around your neck and a solved Rubik’s Cube in your hand.

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