‘Strength doesn’t come from what you can do; it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.’ And Stephen Nedoroscik’s journey is the perfect example! Strabismus, coloboma, glasses, gymnastics, and dance—he’s carrying all of this and still managing to perform at the highest level. Despite battling two eye diseases, Nedoroscik didn’t just participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics—he made history, winning a bronze medal in the pommel horse finals. However this 25-year-old has had his fair share of stressful times.

When he draped the American flag around his shoulders, it wasn’t just a victory for him—it was a statement. Competing with missing eye tissue and misalignment of his eyes must’ve been tough, but it wasn’t his eyesight that were the hardest parts. But what was it?

After the Paris Olympics, Stephen Nedoroscik took his talents to Los Angeles, joining the 33rd season of Dancing With the Stars and bringing his pommel horse skills to the ballroom. He said, “I want to bring some of that gymnastics—maybe a backflip or handstand. I want to have fun with it,” and he certainly did. Reaching the semi-finals was a huge accomplishment, especially considering how different an athlete’s body is from that of a dancer.

But Nedoroscik was up to the challenge, thanks in part to his amazing dance partner, Rylee Arnold, an American professional in Latin and ballroom dance. But things took an unexpected turn when he recently opened up about the “stressful time” he’s been going through, leaving fans concerned.

On November 15th, Stephen Nedoroscik joined the Shawn & Andrew Podcast on YouTube, where he opened up about the pressures he’s faced in both gymnastics and dance. When Andrew East asked him which experience was more nerve-wracking—stepping onto the floor in Paris or the dance floor in Los Angeles—Stephen reflected on the unique challenges of both.

“They were both nerve-wracking for very different reasons,” Stephen said. “Obviously, I have to choose my lifetime goal of being an Olympian as probably the one that’s a lot more nerve-wracking. But there is something just so different about dance. It was like a whole new world for me to jump into.”

Stephen went on to explain how the stress of the Olympics and dancing had distinct impacts on him. “I’d say the Olympics—the hour leading up to my event—was the most stressful time of my entire life,” he admitted. But with dance, he felt a different kind of pressure. “When I first started that first three-week period, it was like I had that same level of stress stretched out over three weeks. Because it was like a whole new world of not only dance but also being in LA, talking with producers, and wearing a mic all day. It was just like a crazy adventure.”

And now, look at him—after eight weeks of competition, Stephen has made it to the final episodes of Dancing With the Stars Season 33. Out of the original couples, only five remain, and Stephen is still in the running.

Last-minute challenge on DWTS, did Stephen Nedoroscik pass the test?

The latest episode of DWTS was a big one—celebrating the 500th episode of the franchise. The couples brought their A-game, paying tribute to iconic dances while putting their own spin on it. Plus, there was an “Instant Dance Challenge,” where couples were given a song and a dance style with only five minutes to prepare before performing it live. And Stephen Nedoroscik was dancing strong.

In the 500th episode, Stephen and his partner, Rylee Arnold, absolutely killed it. First, they performed a Viennese Waltz inspired by Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas’ routine and earned two perfect “10” scores, bringing their total to 29 out of 30. Then, in the “Instant Dance Challenge,” they had to improvise a jive to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Love is Embarrassing,” scoring 25 points, bringing their total up to 54 out of 60. It’s clear Stephen’s not just a gymnast—he’s got some serious dancing skills too.

Meanwhile, NBA star Dwight Howard and his partner Daniella Karagach were sent home after receiving the lowest combined scores from the judges and viewers. Stephen’s journey to the finals is proving that he’s more than ready to take home the Mirror Ball!