After dominating the world of gymnastics, Stephen Nedoroscik is ready to conquer a new stage—this time, on the dance floor. Following in the footsteps of Simone Biles, the Olympic gymnast is set to bring his athletic prowess to “Dancing with the Stars.” With a plan to blend the precision and strength of gymnastics with the grace and flair of dance, Nedoroscik aims to shine on the show just as he has in his sport.

Simone Biles first graced the “DWTS” stage back in 2017, where she paired with Sasha Farber. Despite delivering powerful performances in the Paso Doble and Viennese Waltz, the judges weren’t as impressed as her fans were, leading to an earlier exit than expected. Reflecting on her experience, Simone told E! News, “This is a journey… I’ve done things. I’ve never danced in heels, never danced with a guy, so I feel like I’ve won a lot.” Her time on the show may not have ended in a trophy, but it certainly showcased her willingness to take on new challenges.

Now, it’s Stephen’s turn to step into the spotlight, following a similar path as his fellow gymnast. Though they don’t know each other well, Simone first met Stephen at the Olympic Village, where they shared a few laughs over funny memes. Admiring Simone’s courage to take on the dance floor, Stephen—nicknamed the ‘Superman’ of U.S. men’s gymnastics—decided to join “DWTS” this year. Fresh off becoming the first American in eight years to medal in the individual pommel horse, Stephen is ready to take on this new challenge with the same determination and spirit that has driven his gymnastics career. His fans are eager to see how he will translate his gymnastics skills into dazzling dance moves on the big stage.

Stephen Nedoroscik draws inspiration from Simone Biles and joins Dancing with the Stars

In an exhilarating reveal on August 22, 2024, Stephen Nedoroscik, the Olympics bronze medalist, shared his enthusiasm with GMA: “I want to bring some of that gymnastics—maybe a backflip or handstand. I want to have fun with it.” His voice brimmed with excitement as he talked about his upcoming debut on Dancing with the Stars. The announcement sent waves of excitement through fans when Nedoroscik posted an Instagram teaser, showcasing a poster of himself with the caption, “From Paris to #DWTS!🥉 We’re thrilled to welcome pommel horse legend @stephen_nedoroscik as the first star of the season, premiering live Tuesday, September 17 on ABC and Disney+! Next day on Hulu.”

The 25-year-old Worcester, Massachusetts native’s joyful news, revealed on “Good Morning America,” promises a captivating blend of gymnastics flair and dance passion in his first DWTS season. However, his inspiration, Simone, will not be here in the competition this year. However, her journey in DWTS will surely make Stephen more confident. Even though she is not a dancer, her stunning performances have shocked judges. Unfortunately, she got eliminated in fan voting, but the American gymnast took it sportingly. Reflecting on her elimination after returning from the show, she said, “We heard everyone, and I think everyone’s a little bit shocked.” Though, later, she expresses how she feels significantly because even though she did not win the title, she made a new friend for life with Farber.

Her journey to the DWTS showcased how an athlete can make it to ballroom success with resilience and determination, which is truly inspiring. So, it will also be a reminder for Stephen when he will prepare for his new journey. Though the ‘Clark Kent of gymnastics’ has successfully clinched his spot in DWTS, he also revealed his fear of dancing, saying, “One of my biggest insecurities is dancing, personally.” Still, he further added that he is a guy who always pushes his boundaries to get out of his comfort zone and takes challenges. In a twisted way, he expressed how he has been ‘comfortable with being uncomfortable’. So, he is indicating that he will work hard to stay in the competition and get the crown. But what happens is only time can tell. 

Can Stephen Nedoroscik surpass Simone Biles’ success in DWTS?

As the Paris Olympics have ended, every athlete, including this 25-year Penn State alum, Nedoroscik, prepares for an unexpected chapter of his life. When many gymnastics fans eagerly await Stephen’s performance at the Gold Over America Tour, it seems he is no longer on the coaster. Now, he will focus on dancing moves. However, he has revealed that this Pan American gold medalist will take a one month break from gymnastics and test his skills in dancing. In a candid conversation, he said, “The thing about gymnastics is we are grinding our bodies for years and years, and it’s very rare that we get any rest time really.”

But will he be able to mesmerize the audience with outstanding moves? That is a question. However, it is not only him and Simone who took the chance to be a participant in this show. Earlier, in the 30th edition of DWTS in 2021, the Auburn Tigers star and two-time gold medalist Sunisa Lee also showed her stunning dance performance. In the show, her partner was also Sasha Farber, and their dance routines left her fans in awe. Though she could not get into the finals, she came fifth in the competition. Reflecting on her new journey, she said, “I feel like I finally found myself, and I’m more confident in myself…I feel like I’m more open now, and that was the main goal to come on this show. Obviously, winning was there, but I feel like I love myself more than ever and that is a really important thing.”

So, according to her, winning a competition is not a primary goal, but what matters the most is that she tried something beyond her usual routine. How she came out of her comfort zone to seize the opportunity is what makes her a great sportsperson. This is what Stephen followed as well because dancing is not his comfort zone for him, yet he took it as a challenge. So, will his journey inspire other aspiring gymnasts to participate in DWTS as Lee and Simone did? What do you think?