Stephen Nedoroscik, the U.S. gymnast who captivated fans at the Paris Olympics with his “Superman” routine, recently shared a humorous moment with Simone Biles. The meme frenzy, sparked by fans dubbing him the “Clark Kent of Gymnastics” due to his glasses, highlighted his rise to fame. Nedoroscik’s nerves of steel shone through as he delivered a nearly flawless pommel horse routine, scoring 14.866 and securing a bronze medal for Team USA—their first Olympic medal since 2008. This standout performance and his viral status made him a sensation and added a lighthearted twist when Biles reacted to the meme craze.

Men’s gymnastics star Stephen Nedoroscik recently received a memorable visit from Simone Biles in the Olympic Village. The veteran Olympian showed Nedoroscik a meme of himself, which he called a “surreal” moment, saying, “I don’t think she really even knew what my name was a month ago.” 

Nedoroscik shared the encounter on his Instagram story, stating, “SIMONE BILES SHOWED ‘POMMEL HORSE GUY’ A MEME OF HIMSELF IN OLYMPIC VILLAGE.” Nedoroscik, known as “Pommel Horse Guy” for his impressive skills on the pommel horse, won two bronze medals at the Paris Games—one for the team all-around and one for the pommel horse.

Like his Rubik’s cube hobby, his nerdy persona and meme-worthy moments have made him an internet sensation. Teen Vogue highlighted his rise, noting that while stars like Katie Ledecky and Sha’Carri Richardson drew initial attention, Nedoroscik’s unique charm and transformation into an internet icon stole the show. Despite the fame, Nedoroscik has kept his positivity intact, appreciating Biles’ gesture as a sign of her support.

Reflecting on the meme craze, Nedoroscik told Entertainment Tonight, “They are hilarious. It is such an honor to be in that position.” He acknowledged the pressures of sudden fame, saying, “She’s just an icon, she’s the GOAT,” recognizing that only someone like Biles could truly understand his experience.

Despite his newfound fame, Nedoroscik stayed focused and delivered strong performances, earning his medals and making a lasting impression. He found himself in another “meme-worthy” moment as he rested on the sidelines with his glasses off while his teammates competed in Paris. Let’s see the reason behind his signature look and how it became part of his unique persona.

Why “Gymnastic Clark Kent” wears glasses: The story behind the spectacles!

The meme of Nedoroscik solving a Rubik’s cube in under 10 seconds as a stress reliever went viral. His pre-competition ritual captured attention, with author John Green humorously commenting on X, “To truly understand Stephen Nedoroscik’s nerd credentials, you need to know that he is in Paris for the Olympics and posting to his insta story about solving a Rubik’s cube in under 10 seconds.” Despite his meme-worthy moments, Nedoroscik wears glasses due to photosensitivity, which causes visual impairments. 

Nedoroscik revealed on TikTok that he has strabismus, or crossed eyes, which causes his eyes to not line up properly. This condition affects the eye muscles and makes the eyes point in different directions. He also shared that he has coloboma, which makes him light-sensitive, possibly explaining why he borrowed sunglasses from Hoda. USA Gymnastics dubbed him “Super Steve,” and Nedoroscik, 25, embraced the nickname. During a TODAY segment on July 30, he said, “I think they’re awesome,” referring to the memes. He added, “I’m representing people that wear glasses well.”

Eye doctors, like Dr. Dean Cestari from Mass Eye and Ear, praised Nedoroscik for raising awareness about eye conditions. Cestari called it “amazing” and noted, “I’ve never seen anything like this with the Olympiad.” He believes it offers hope to children with similar conditions. Nedoroscik is already inspiring young fans. USA Gymnastics shared a touching photo of him meeting a child with the same eye condition, calling it a “really, really special moment.”

He further commented, “It’s all the hands-I can feel everything,” stressing it is important for him to focus on his vision as he just has to get his hands’ moves correct. Nedoroscik decided not to wear glasses for another reason, as well. During his performance, it is possible that his glasses may fly away when he performs his routine. Even though it seemed a “little complicated,” he did not disappoint his team.

Now, after the Paris Olympics, he will take a break from training, as he shared with US Magazine. He continued, “I’ve been so locked into gymnastics for probably five months now.” Now, his main motto is to “just breathe, heal up, and relax” while appreciating his year in the sport.