Olympic medalist and Dancing With The Stars contestant Stephen Nedoroscik stunned everybody with his Week 7 performance. Embracing his fear of pitch-black darkness, the gymnast performed a contemporary to “I Ran (So Far Away)” by Hidden Citizens to earn his highest score on the show, including a first 10. This feat was all the more impressive as he was performing without his glasses in the dark.

The 26-year-old has two eye conditions, which require him to wear glasses. But that hasn’t proved to be an impediment, as seen in the Olympics as well as DWTS. He gained popularity for sporting his glasses during his medal-winning exploits in Paris, with many dubbing him as Clark Kent, due to an uncanny resemblance. Now, the gymnast has teamed up with the national optical retailer, Eyemart Express.

Nedoroscik posted a video on Instagram in collaboration with the brand with the caption, “Eye exams, same-day glasses, helpful Eyewear Experts—Eyemart Express makes managing my eye health so fast and so easy.” 

“It took me years of nonstop training, focus, and discipline to become an Olympic medalist. But luckily with Eyemart Express managing my eye health isn’t quite as hard,” Nedoroscik is heard saying in the voiceover of the video-centric campaign. Promoting the brand he says, “I can schedule my eye exams online with their quick and easy online booking tool to keep my prescription up to date.”

Eyemart Express is leveraging the gymnast’s fame to promote its new omnichannel eye health experience. Speaking on the collaboration, Katy Hanson, the company’s chief marketing and merchandising officer, told VMAIL, “We were inspired by how Stephen used his platform at the Paris Games to demonstrate that wearing glasses is no barrier to high athletic achievement.”

He also added, “His genuine spirit and dedication to excellence in pommel horse training align perfectly with our own commitment to quality in the optical industry, which is why we connected with his team to collaborate on this campaign. Eye health is at the heart of our campaign with Stephen.”

Back in 2022, the two-time Paris Olympic bronze medalist revealed he has strabismus, a condition, which he described as being cross-sighted in a TikTok video. He also tagged the video with #coloboma, another eye condition wherein a person is born without a portion of eye tissue in one or both eyes. This can cause pupil(s) to appear permanently dilated, as is the case with Nedoroscik.

But he hasn’t let these challenges affect him performing admirably in Paris and then taking his talents to the dance floor in DWTS. Notably, ahead of his Week 7 performance, he described his struggle without the glasses, but the gymnast is determined not to use his vision issues as an excuse.

After he shared the video of his partnership with Eyemart Express, his fans flocked to the comment section, to share their excitement for this “smartest partnership ever.”

Fans delighted with Nedoroscik’s new venture and hail the eye company’s move

Speaking before his best performance on DWTS, Nedoroscik revealed the challenges he faces without the glasses and performing in darkness, as was the requirement for his next performance. 

He stated, “If I was in pitch black darkness, and I didn’t know where I was. Without my glasses, I have trouble seeing anything at all. I have no depth perception, and I also have a genetic disorder, so any lights that are in my face, it’s super painful, and I usually can’t really see well at all.” Still, it didn’t deter him as went on to have an incredible showing with his partner Rylee Arnold.

Stephen Nedoroscik’s transition from the Dancing with the Stars stage to the eyeglass advertisement has the fans buzzing. One fan enthused, “See Stephen in eyeglass advertisements is the best,” celebrating his new role and showing just how much his audience enjoys seeing him in fresh ventures.

As the face of this new campaign, Stephen has drawn positive feedback from fans who believe he’s the “perfect ambassador” for the brand. Comments like “Perfect fit! So happy for you getting these endorsement deals!” showcase just how well his persona resonates beyond the dance floor.

Another admirer voiced their excitement, saying, “Another amazing move from the specialist,” hinting at how seamlessly Stephen’s disciplined approach to gymnastics and dance translates to his new role in front of the camera. Others also hailed Eyemart Express for bringing the gymnast on board for their brand promotion. 

One fan noted, “That’s how you sell glasses,” while another commented, “They were so smart to partner with you.” The collab seems to have already worked for the company as evidenced by comments from some of the fans.

“I support any business that supports Stephen, done sold,” wrote one user. Fans seem to be on board with his dive into the world of endorsements and are hoping to see more of him in such ads. With his growing stardom, it won’t be a surprise to see Nedoroscik get more such deals in the near future.