Let’s take a trip back to the unforgettable Paris Olympics, where history unfolded and records shattered! Stephen Nedoroscik was a total rockstar, helping the U.S. men’s gymnastics team end a 16-year medal drought all while snagging a bronze medal for himself too. But hold up, it gets better! Ilona Maher, representing the U.S. women’s national rugby sevens team, also scored a bronze!

Now, this dynamic duo is hitting the dance floor together on Dancing with the Stars, bringing the heat as competitors! It’s a whole new vibe compared to their Olympic days when they were both representing Team USA, showcasing their skills in different sports. But even with the competition heating up, Stephen was there to back up Ilona before one of their big performances.

Stephen Nedoroscik swaps dance moves for coaching grooves

In a recent Instagram story posted by Dancing with the Stars’ official account, fans got a sneak peek at Stephen Nedoroscik taking on the role of coach as he guided fellow star and Olympian, Ilona Maher, through a cartwheel practice session. Yep, right there on the DWTS stage, Stephen showed Ilona how to master those graceful flips. And Ilona? Well, with Stephen’s expert tips and a bit of that stage magic, it looks like she’ll be nailing those cartwheels in no time.

In the Instagram story, Stephen Nedoroscik kicked things off by showing Ilona Maher how to nail a cartwheel. After that, he tossed her some cool tips before she gave it a go with almost the whole crew on stage, all getting pumped for their performances. The story had a fun caption: “Cartwheel practice with @ilonamaher & @stephen_nedoroscik. #SoulTrainNight #DWTS,” totally capturing the good vibes and teamwork!

But hey, this isn’t the first time Stephen Nedoroscik was seen as a coach. A few weeks ago, just before the show kicked off, Stephen Nedoroscik, a two-time bronze medalist, decided to take his Season 33 partner, Rylee Arnold, for a spin in his world—the gym! He showed her some pommel horse moves, and Rylee even tried out that iconic Stephen move. It was super cool to see her go from being mentored to showing off her own skills!

On September 8, Stephen dropped a reel on Instagram, and it was all about their coaching session, filled with patience and good vibes. It all started when he asked, “Are you ready? Are you excited?” and Rylee kept it real with, “I’m scared.” But it didn’t take long for the energy to shift! After a few falls, Stephen was hyped, cheering, “That was insane. You killed that!” and Rylee just beamed back, saying, “So good.” Looks like Rylee’s got some impressive hidden talent! But now, Stephen and Ilona are lighting up the dance floor on DWTS!

Stephen Nedoroscik and Ilona Maher on DWTS

Dancing with the Stars made its exciting return on October 7 after a brief break, featuring a fun Soul Train night theme. Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold kicked things off with a lively quickstep to Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” starting their routine from the stairs and bringing the energy to the floor! Derek loved their vibe and tricks but suggested Stephen tighten up his frame. Bruno and Carrie Ann urged him to work on timing since he sometimes got ahead of the beat. Despite the feedback, the judges scored them 30 points with eights and sevens!

Meanwhile, Ilona Maher and her partner Alan Bersten wowed everyone with a fabulous Foxtrot to “Lady Marmalade” by LaBelle. Ilona kicked off her performance in style, sitting on a gigantic, spinning chair that had the crowd buzzing as soon as the music kicked in! Bruno couldn’t get enough, calling it a “proper foxtrot,” while Carrie Ann and Derek praised her growth, describing the whole thing as beautiful and elegant.

Rosie also jumped in with some love, saying she nailed it. The judges were feeling the vibe, too, giving them a mix of sevens and eights, which brought her total score to a solid 30! Seems like Stephen’s advice really paid off for Ilona!