Life is all about stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things, and Olympian gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik seems to be doing just that. After all, when the routine becomes stagnant, shaking things up can be like a breath of fresh air—and Nedoroscik is embracing it wholeheartedly. The Penn State alum was part of the historic Team USA squad that ended a 16-year medal drought at the 2024 Paris Olympics, clinching a hard-earned bronze. But now, the pommel horse specialist is trading the mat for the dance floor as he joins this year’s Dancing With The Stars.

Naturally, fans were buzzing with excitement. Nedoroscik, known for his precision and grace on the pommel horse, is about to dive into a whole new world of footwork and flair. And it seems he’s not the only one ready for a challenge—his dance partner, Rylee Arnold, will also be learning a thing or two from this Olympic medalist.

With a team bronze and an individual bronze from Paris under his belt, Nedoroscik brings plenty of experience, discipline, and agility to the table. At just 25, he’s already mastered one of the most difficult apparatuses in gymnastics, and now he’s taking that same energy into uncharted territory. If there’s ever a time to learn from a champion like him, it’s now—and Arnold knows it.

As Nedoroscik waltzes into this new adventure, one thing’s for sure: whether it’s on the pommel horse or the dance floor, he’s ready to impress. Will he bring the same medal-winning magic to Dancing With The Stars? Stay tuned—it’s going to be a show you won’t want to miss!

Stephen Nedoroscik gives back to his DWTS partner

The Nittany Lions star’s national teammate and Olympic medalist Fred Richard took to Instagram on September 9 to share BTS clips from Nedoroscik’s dance recital. Captioned “Who learned better?” the post’s accompanying video shows Richard, Nedoroscik, and their brethren from Stanford: Ian Gunther and Brody Malone putting their gymnastics flexibility to good use.

In the IG post, Richard showcased moments from the DWTS studio where the Team USA gymnasts learned moves from Rylee Arnold, Nedoroscik’s dancing partner. Stephen gets some pointers from his colleagues, but Richard does a decent enough job. However, Brody looks somewhat rusty compared to the others, and his buddies can’t help but smirk, all in good humor.

But it wasn’t only Arnold who assumed the role of the teacher. The four gymnasts did their best to help the professional dancer perfect her salute. Assuring her to “Trust the process,” Nedoroscik & Co. are disappointed nonetheless. “You can never be a male gymnast,” the Olympians grin and conclude. But as Nedoroscik waits to traverse the new path, he also has to forego some spotlight on more familiar pastures.

You win some, you lose some

September has been highly anticipated for gymnastics fans all over the country for a long time. After the Paris Games, the upcoming Gold Over America Tour will be set to bring more titillating action to the country from next Monday. After three long years, the G. O. A. T. will once again hit the roads all across the USA intending to inspire more upcoming talents to chase their dreams as a gymnast with Olympic glory at the end of the road. To make sure the upcoming event gets all the attention of the community and beyond, the 7x Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles will be spearheading the charge to make gymnastics more popular. Along with Biles, national celebrities like Jordan Chiles, Paul Juda, Asher Hong, and more will be joining the fold.

However, Nedoroscik decided to sit this one out and instead chose to get over his fear of dancing once and for all. “One of my biggest insecurities is dancing personally, right? but I’m always the type of guy that pushes boundaries,” said the Penn State star. Considering Stephen’s former coaches Bob Donahue and Liz Gonzalez claim their student was always a wild and curious one even as a child, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see Nedoroscil expanding his gaze beyond his realm. How do you think he will perform on his dancing debut? Tell us in a comment below.