Gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, who gained fame for his pommel horse performances at the Olympics, is set to appear on television again by joining the new season of “Dancing With the Stars.”
Nedoroscik, who captivated audiences at the Paris Olympics by transforming from an everyday Clark Kent into a gymnastics superhero, is the first celebrity announced for the show’s 33rd season.
The season premieres on September 17 on ABC and Disney Plus, with episodes available the following day on Hulu.
At 25, the Penn State electrical engineering graduate became widely recognized for his unique approach to the pommel horse.
Known for closing his eyes and seemingly napping while waiting for his turn, Nedoroscik would then remove his glasses and execute his routine flawlessly.
This performance contributed to the U.S. men’s gymnastics team securing a bronze medal—their first team medal in 16 years. He also earned a bronze medal in the individual pommel horse competition.
His eyewear, which is necessary due to his condition called strabismus, and his cool demeanor quickly became the subject of memes, a phenomenon that surprised him.
Gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik (Photo: John Cheng)
“If someone were to ask me what about me would eventually gain traction, I’d probably say it was my eyewear or more my eyes, my conditions,” he remarked to reporters in Paris. “I do think I’m just a quirky guy, and I’m glad that people are enjoying my competition.”
Nedoroscik found the memes “hilarious” and said, “It’s almost surreal to finally wind down after a day of workout and go on TikTok and see someone made a meme of me. It’s so surreal. It’s unbelievable.”
Despite the overwhelming attention, Nedoroscik noted that he had to focus intensely during the competition, even turning off phone notifications. “Maybe I missed opportunities because of that, but I’m more proud of getting this bronze medal right here than any of those opportunities.”
Though he initially planned to relax with his girlfriend for a month after the Games, Nedoroscik is dealing with some physical issues. “I definitely have some stress injuries throughout my wrist, my elbows, and my back. I don’t know what’s going on,” he said.
“But I’ve been in pain for a while, so it’s definitely a good idea to get checked out and take a little bit of a break and we’ll see what big opportunities I might have coming this fall.”
He had planned to unwind with a Rubik’s cube before refocusing on gymnastics, stating, “I will definitely be running it back in L.A.”
