Collective performance increase after an individual breakthrough
Why do we typically see a collective performance increase after a single individual makes a breakthrough? For example, after Roger Bannister ran the first 4 minute mile, the flood gates opened and many people could achieve this feat.
Well, it's because of a challenge. It's in the human nature to live for challenges and so happens for example for many sports and science achievements.
You also can remember that that's the whole point of Guinness World Record circus