The Paris Olympics may have wrapped, but the spotlight on these athletes is far from dimming. Remember Stephen Nedoroscik’s grand entrance at the Games? Whether he was helping end the U.S. men’s gymnastics team’s 16-year medal drought or dazzling with his own moves on the pommel horse, he stole the show. And who could forget his epic “Clark Kent” transformation on the mat, flipping off his glasses in a move worthy of a superhero revelation? The world couldn’t get enough.

And as if the Olympics weren’t enough, Stephen then secured a spot on Dancing with the Stars, where he’s been lighting up the stage week after week. Now, seven weeks into the show, he and his partner, Rylee Arnold, took on Halloween night with a spine-tingling contemporary dance that sent chills and brought back the familiar thrill of gymnastics for Stephen.

After their Halloween night performance on Dancing with the Stars, Access Hollywood asked Stephen and Rylee “So, another amazing dance this week. How are you both feeling? You had a little scary moment—you were one of the last names called that you were safe this week.” How did they feel after such a suspenseful wait?

Stephen’s answer was all heart: “Relieved more than anything, but also, I’m so proud of that performance. I think it’s the best I ever did that dance, and it was just an amazing moment. I’d celebrate after like I would at a gymnastics competition, because it felt like that to me.”That dance floor had stirred up the same adrenaline he knew so well from his days on the mat—another thrilling step in this wild ride under the ballroom lights.

Stephen Nedoroscik was riding high after his latest “Dancing with the Stars” performance, especially after last week’s “Hercules and Meg” did not add much magic on Disney Night. Stephen took on the Charleston, a quick-footed, high-energy dance. His partner, Arnold, gave us the lowdown on the dance, saying, “The Charleston is super quick movement. There’s lots of accents and sharp movement. But you can also do lifts, you can do cool tricks, which is really helpful to Steve.” It all looked promising, but the judges had a few notes to balance things out—some noticed timing slips, others saw him racing a bit ahead of the beat. Thus the duo scored a solid 24/30 for thier Charleston.

Carrie Ann Inaba kicked off with, “What a fantastic way to start the night, you danced like a hero! But a little bit off-time hero. I do see all of the growth by you there is a new calmness, but you just got a little ahead of the music, and it stayed with you the whole time.” Derek Hough had to agree, adding, “She’s absolutely right, but let me say in the Olympics, when you took off those glasses, a star was absolutely born in that moment. I love the athleticism, I love your performances, you always bring so much joy. But let’s work on that timing a bit, a great way to start the show.”

And Bruno Tonioli? “You were attacking the dance! But hold on a second, I appreciate that. I appreciate passion, determination, but you have to work on timing.” With eights across the board, Stephen landed his 24/30 for the solo. Then, for team dances, the eight remaining stars split up, and Stephen found himself on Team Roar with Dwight Howard, Danny Amendola, and Phaedra Parks, dancing to “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” from The Lion King. When the team score was added to his individual score, Stephen wrapped up Disney Night with a total of 48/60—strong showing, timing or not!

Moving to Week 7 this time, Stephen embraced the spooky spirit, transformed into a haunting specter in tattered attire and ghostly makeup, while Rylee glided in silk as the haunted heroine. The stage set the perfect eerie tone with its fiery backdrop and flashing eyes and hands. Their moves hit every beat with precision and the chemistry? Electric. Safe to say, this was the comeback we all wanted. And they earned something they hadn’t received even once on this show!

Stephen Nedoroscik and his partner receive something special!

After Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold’s latest performance, the judges’ reactions were glowing, marking their first 10 of the season and a grand score of 28! Carrie Ann raved, calling it the “best dance of the night,” while Derek noted how perfectly Stephen suited darker, dramatic roles. Bruno was captivated by Stephen’s deep dive into character, saying he’d found his dramatic side and delivered something beautiful.

While Carrie Ann handed them a solid 10, the other two judges settled on nines—and let’s just say, fans were less than thrilled! On Instagram, Dancing with the Stars’ post saw fans venting their disappointment. One fired-up viewer wrote, “IM SO MAD. That deserved all 10s…” The duo’s haunting performance was set to I Ran (So Far Away) by Hidden Citizens, perfectly aligned with Halloween’s eerie theme.

The dance, inspired by Stephen’s own fear of darkness, resonated deeply with the crowd, pulling at heartstrings and sparking big praise. Carrie Ann’s 10 mirrored the audience’s admiration, but fans agreed: all three judges should’ve felt the same way.