Stephen Nedoroscik displayed an incredible performance at the Paris Olympics, where he showcased his pommel horse skills during the all-around finals. Not only did he help his country win a bronze medal in gymnastics, but he also became a very popular figure nationwide. The entire event caught the attention of ABC Network, which invited him to compete in the new season of Dancing with the Stars. Stephen promptly agreed, and after much speculation about whether his gymnastics skills would translate to the dance stage, he made his debut on September 17.

Performing alongside his partner Rylee Arnold, Stephen Nedoroscik stole the show with the energy and enthusiasm he displayed. They performed British singer Adam Lambert’s rendition of the immensely popular Queen song “Don’t Stop Me Now.” As the performance began, Stephen dramatically removed his spectacles and tossed them aside. He then winked at the camera, a nod to his Olympic performance where he was compared to Clark Kent.

The judges were impressed by the athleticism Stephen Nedoroscik displayed during the performance. Each judge awarded them a solid 7, bringing their total score to 21, which was the fourth highest among the 13 contestant pairs. Despite this, fans felt that Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold deserved higher scores, as they were particularly enthusiastic about the performance. Many fans declared that they would tune in each week solely to watch this pair. In fact, some were so taken with the performance that they began to believe the duo might win the show. Additionally, fans appreciated the references Stephen made to himself, including the nod to Clark Kent with his glasses.

The whole performance also had a Rubik’s cube theme to it, as the screen behind and the dance floor displayed images of it. This was another reference to the gymnast himself and his Rubik’s cube solving skills. He demonstrated it during his appearance at the Tonight show with Jimmy Fallon. He solved the puzzle within just 15.42 seconds. It was incredible to see.

Judge Derek Hough talked about the performance afterward. Before he started judging the performance, he gave a shout-out to the US men’s gymnastics team. Then, he related the performance to a Rubik’s cube. He said that there were a lot of twists, turns, and surprises in there, which made the performance better. He also praised the athleticism Stephen showed. “I love how you used your athleticism to show this audience a great time,” he said. However, judging by the reactions on social media, it is the fans who have already started to adore them and their performances. They seem to appreciate the pair more than the judges.

Fans want Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold to win the whole competition

One fan said, “Stephen Nedoroscik, YOU ARE MY WINNER!” A lot of the fans expressed very similar sentiments. “These are my dwts winners right here, just saying,” said another fan. Some fans believed that the seven scores given to the gymnast were very low. They believed that it was a great performance, considering that it was his debut and he had never danced before. They said, “Loved this dance so much; I really thought they deserved 8’s.” 

Some fans talked about how Stephen Nedoroscik was a much better partner to Rylee Arnold than the one in the previous season of the show. During Season 32, she was partnered with reality TV star Harry Jowsey, who, according to fans, could barely move. The pair got eliminated in the ninth week of the show. One user said, “AH, it’s so refreshing seeing Rylee with a partner that can move!” Another user showed excitement at the prospects of the pair as they seemed perfect for each other. They seemed like they really could go far in the show.

They said, “As a big gymnastics fan AND a huge fan of DWTS and Rylee, I am thrilled by this pairing!! Their dance tonight was amazing!! Rylee is great at promo and is so talented, which will help Stephen go far. And Rylee deserves a GOOD partner that will work hard.” With the season still in its early days, it seems difficult to say who would win the show. But Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold have definitely caught the audience’s attention with this performance. Hopefully, they could continue this and progress deep into the show.