Stephen Nedoroscik truly won over the world when he claimed the bronze in the City of Love last year. The 25-year-old pommel horse specialist made history by helping Team USA’s men’s gymnastics squad break a 16-year medal drought in Paris 2024. He followed this with a display of skill that was simply flawless and clinched an individual bronze for himself in the event finals. But his story didn’t end there. Fresh off Olympic glory, Nedoroscik swapped the mat for the ballroom, dazzling audiences once again on Dancing With The Stars.

While he didn’t lift the Mirror Ball Trophy in Season 33, his charisma and talent earned him a spot as a co-host for the show’s 2025 tour. However, his journey to the Olympics and beyond was anything but easy. Returning to his alma mater, Penn State, for a special “SPA Day” event, Nedoroscik reflected on his whirlwind six months, addressing an audience of students eager to hear his story. Dubbed “Pommel Horse Guy” and likened to Team USA’s “Clark Kent” for his signature glasses, the gymnast opened up about the immense pressure he faced leading up to the Olympics. 

His selection to the five-man squad was met with widespread criticism due to his status as a one-event specialist, which many believed left the team vulnerable. Going to the gravity-defying arena, Nedoroscik had to fight a battle of his own first. Despite dealing with major medical complications centering his eyes, he wasn’t ready to give up. But the world did not take long to doubt him. 

Recalling the response he received from fans after grabbing the ticket to Paris, Nedoroscik shared, “I had to deal with a lot of very negative comments. I mean, pretty much the entire gymnastics community was like, ‘We can’t have Stephen on the team.’” He further admitted, “But for me, I kind of like the negative energy. I’m gonna be real. I was like, ‘I’m gonna prove them all wrong.’” And that’s exactly what he did.

Despite the backlash, Nedoroscik remained undeterred. He recalled how fans and critics alike doubted him even further after seeing him remove his glasses before competing. But his ability to silence the noise and focus on proving his worth became his greatest weapon. “There was like an immediate sort of, like, community hatred that I made the team,” he said.

Reflecting on the immediate thoughts he had back then, he shared on an episode of Mythical Kitchen on YouTube, “I immediately knew like I had something to prove.” The criticism didn’t shake him. Rather, it acted as the fuel for the fire. With determination, he delivered the best performance of his career in the event final, securing his second bronze medal.

The magnitude of his achievement didn’t sink in until after the competition. As he sat down for dinner with his girlfriend and family, Tess turned to him and asked, “Have you looked at your phone yet?” When he finally checked, he was stunned. “I open it up and I’m trending on Twitter. It was unbelievable, unbelievable,” he recalled.

“In that moment, I was like, ‘What is life? What is happening?’ I just got an Olympic medal, and suddenly all these followers, messages, positivity, and it was so black and white compared to what I had when I first made that Olympic team”, shared the Olympic medalist. The once-doubtful gymnastics community had completely changed its tune.

Just days after his Olympic triumph, Dancing With The Stars came calling. “They reached out on a Thursday, and they wanted a decision by Friday,” Nedoroscik revealed. Despite the chaos surrounding his sudden rise to fame, he didn’t hesitate. “That was the best decision ever,” he said of joining the show.

Yet, even amid this career-defining moment, his discipline never wavered. “I said, ‘This is so distracting.’ I turned it all off and said, ‘I’m not looking back for the next couple of days,’ because I had that event final.” The result? Another bronze! Another victory over his doubters. But the road to the summit of triumph was laid with thorns. However, Nedoroscik made sure to overcome them with power.

Stephen Nedoroscik’s battle beyond the gym

Before fighting for perfection on the pommel horse or dazzling on Dancing with the Stars, Nedoroscik had to overcome multiple health battles that could have easily derailed his career. His signature glasses are more than a style choice; they help him manage strabismus, which causes double vision, and coloboma, making bright lights unbearable.

Removing them before routines has become his signature move, not just for the dramatic effect but out of necessity. Yet, despite these challenges, he’s mastered his craft, proving that his vision issues are no match for his determination.

But his struggles did not end there. As an elite athlete, managing asthma was another hurdle. While the condition could threaten his stamina, Stephen has worked tirelessly to minimize its impact. “With gymnastics and the endurance that I’ve worked, my asthma symptoms are much lesser than they could be,” he shared. Still, it remains an ever-present battle, demanding constant attention to keep his breathing in check.

Adding to the challenge, Stephen had to face a surprisingly new adversary, his pet. “But now I own a cat that I’m allergic to,” he admitted. And that does affect his asthma. However, he still tries to face his challenges by using his medication daily. This just tells how much mental fortitude he has. Through it all, Stephen continues to push forward. He has proven that no obstacle, be it vision issues, asthma, or allergies, can stand in his way.