After Stephen Nedoroscik went viral for his chill vibes right before his pommel horse routine at the 2024 Paris Olympics, fans started comparing him to Superman. Naturally, his girlfriend, Tess McCracken, got the cute nickname Lois Lane! Well, Stephen really helped the U.S. men’s gymnastics team snag their first medal in 16 years, which is pretty amazing, and since then he has become the talk of the town.

Tess got online titles like “First Lady of Pommel Horse” and “Mrs. Pommel Horse.” But then things got a bit spicy on October 21 when, on Reddit, she talked about her Twitter account (@stephens_gf), and some people started questioning if she was just using it for fame and recognition. After all, that username definitely ties her identity to Stephen’s success.

By connecting her identity to Stephen Nedoroscik, especially after his viral moments, she has the potential to significantly increase her following. With a larger following, Tess might also attract opportunities for collaboration with brands or endorsements related to gymnastics, sports, or lifestyle. She could leverage her platform to promote products or causes she cares about, turning her social media presence into a potential source of income.

So, Tess McCracken, a 26-year-old retired gymnast, has suddenly found herself in the spotlight alongside her boyfriend, Stephen Nedoroscik. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University and now works remotely as a project manager in cell and gene therapy for a biopharmaceutical company based in Pennsylvania.

Recently, a user on Reddit shared a video of Tess explaining her Twitter handle (@stephens_gf), and it’s super interesting to hear her side. In the video, she comes across as a totally relatable person who’s just trying to support her boyfriend as he navigates this whirlwind of fame. It’s refreshing because a lot of people seem to have opinions about her without really knowing her story.

In her explanation, Tess said, “It was never meant to be my actual Twitter account. It actually started out as an old account; it was always meant to be an old account. It wasn’t until it blew up during the Olympics that it became well-known.” She initially created the account just to connect with fellow gymnastics fans and chat about the sport, never expecting it to gain so much traction. She reflected, “I was trying to come up with a handle for it… but I wasn’t a big enough gymnast myself to really worry about anything to do with me in college.” This really shows that her intentions were more about community than chasing fame.

Tess also wanted people to see her as more than just a username. She noted, “I decided I wanted people to know who I was and not just be like a username, kind of hiding behind things.” Embracing her role as Stephen’s girlfriend, she mentioned, “I was just shamelessly these Stefens fan on Twitter because that’s who I am.” It’s clear she takes pride in being supportive of Stephen while engaging with the gymnastics community in a genuine way. She added, “It’s not weird; it’s not a partner,” emphasizing that her connection to Stephen is authentic and meaningful.

With all this attention, Tess has noticed some unexpected changes. She shared, “The unexpected side effect of changing my bio two days ahead of the Olympics… goes viral.” Her bio was “Mrs. Pommel Horse.” Thanks to Stephen’s success, her following has skyrocketed from just a couple of hundred gymnastics fans to thousands of people interested in her insights and support for him. Well, for now, her Instagram follows 23.1k. What started as a small account has blossomed into something much bigger, allowing her to find her own voice in the gymnastics world while celebrating her relationship with Stephen. After watching this clarification, fans started defending her.

Fans rally behind Tess McCracken amidst rumors about Stephen Nedoroscik

One fan added, “Her boyfriend of 8 years became famous overnight. I feel like she deserves a little grace when it comes to how she handles being in the public eye. I know she’s doing better than I would lol!.” Tess McCracken’s love story with Stephen Nedoroscik began at Penn State, a place that immediately felt like home for her.

In 2017, during athlete orientation, Tess, a member of the women’s gymnastics team, met Stephen, who was on the men’s team. They recognized each other from the gymnastics circuit but didn’t really talk until they were paired up for a personality questionnaire. It was a fun way to break the ice! When they saw each other again on the first day of classes, things just clicked, and they started dating just a week later.

One more fan added, “This exactly this. Both her and Stephen are trying to balance their lives with what has come from the Olympics. He literally went viral July 29. Her posts that she posted before the Olympics went crazy not long there after. Give them some breathing room. Most of the people that are being gross didn’t even know who either of them were before all this. She’s trying to support him, have her own career, and they are raising a cat together. She has moved across the country twice in supporting him. What more do people want.”

Four years ago, Tess McCracken was in the thick of her collegiate gymnastics career at Penn State, where she specialized in the balance beam, uneven bars, and floor exercises. During her time at the university, she trained under Simone Biles’ coaches, Cecile Canqueteau-Landi and Laurent Landi, which gave her invaluable experience in the sport.

In her senior year, Tess was nominated for the prestigious AAI Award, recognizing her as one of the nation’s most outstanding seniors in gymnastics. However, her collegiate journey took an unexpected turn when the coronavirus outbreak forced her to retire abruptly. On March 14, 2020, she shared a heartfelt message on Facebook, saying, “Gymnastics, I’ll miss you, but this is just goodbye for now, not goodbye forever. I’ll be back to play someday soon.” Despite stepping away from the sport, Tess has continued to support her boyfriend, Stephen Nedoroscik, as he shines in the gymnastics community and is now on “Dancing with the Stars,” where people ain’t letting them live peacefully.

The couple, on the other hand, now lives in Sarasota, Florida, with their pet tabby. “He’s named after Kitakyushu, Japan, where he won his gold medal at the World Championships,” explains Tess. “We’re each other’s person” isn’t just a phrase for this duo; just like she used to cheer for him from the sidelines, she cheers the same from the audience during every single of his DWTS performances.

Now, when Rylee Arnold and Stephen Nedoroscik lit up the dance floor on Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars and captivated audiences with their chemistry and impressive moves, rumors began swirling about a potential romance between the two. But hold on—let’s clear the air! On an episode of the Lightweights Podcast, Nedoroscik addressed the speculation, saying that while he and Rylee shared a close friendship, it was purely platonic. He explained how the three of them—Stephen, Tess, and Rylee—often hang out together, playing games like Face 10 and Codenames.

Their bond was rooted in mutual respect for each other’s talents, with Rylee even stepping onto the pommel horse to get a taste of Stephen’s world during their second week of training. As Stephen put it, “The fact that we did that sort of like on week two, it was like an immediate mutual respect for one another. I was struggling with dance; she struggled with pommel horse… we were both like, ‘Rile, you’re an incredible athlete,’ and she’s like, ‘You’re an incredible athlete.’” Yet, the speculation continued to simmer, especially since Rylee and Stephen lived in the same building and often spent time together after rehearsals.

Stephen revealed that they liked to unwind at the pool before diving back into practice, adding a playful dynamic to their partnership. Despite the buzz, Stephen remained dedicated to Tess, planning to return to her after DWTS wrapped up, proving that his heart was firmly with his girlfriend, no matter what the rumors said.

One more fan added, “I feel like Tess doesn’t need to explain herself. Tess is unapologetically herself and has a dry sense of humor. People need to stop being so parasocial and learn how to take things less literally. Y’all need to go outside and touch grass! p.s. WE ARE! 🦁⚪️🔵.” Another added, “I seem to remember during Paris she was trying to source stronger prescription sunglasses for him lol.” Another added, “They are a cute couple!!”.

Stephen Nedoroscik has two eye conditions—strabismus, which causes crossed eyes, and coloboma, a genetic issue that leads to missing tissue in the eye. He usually wears thick-framed glasses but takes them off before he competes on the pommel horse. Through it all, Tess McCracken is right there with him, showing that she’s his rock. Their bond is as strong as ever, and Tess supports him wholeheartedly as he navigates the ups and downs of both his career and personal life. Together, they really prove that love can get you through anything!