The Dancing With The Stars stage saw a serendipitous twist when pommel horse prodigy Stephen Nedoroscik stepped on. Stephen recently came into the limelight after his bronze-winning performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Since he has been on a rollercoaster that seemingly only goes up!

Nedoroscik’s DWTS debut on September 17 was as electrifying as it was unexpected. He appeared on stage paired with pro dancer Rylee Arnold. Stephen, to everyone’s surprise, had brought his gymnastics floor energy to the dance floor. His performance of Adam Lambert’s take on Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” was a showstopper.

In a never-before-seen persona, Stephen Nedoroscik kicked off his performance by tossing his glasses aside, winking at the camera like he was channeling his inner Clark Kent. Judges scored the pair 21 out of 30, which placed them fourth among the 13 contestant couples. But not everyone seems to agree with the judges, with many fans feeling that Stephen’s enthusiasm alone deserved more.

The two performed with all their hearts, leaving the world buzzing with excitement. Post-performance, Stephen even went on to say, “I mean, I’m just… was really excited. I was a little nervous going in, but Rylee helped me stay grounded. We went through some breathing exercises, and honestly, I enjoyed every moment of it. It was so fun.” Rylee was equally excited about the performance!

Rylee even went on to say, “I am so proud of what he did. He has never had to perform like this before, and he’s never danced, and he absolutely smashed it. Just being in the room with him, being able to dance with him is such an honor, truly. I have so much fun, so I’m just so glad he’s my partner.” The chemistry between the two is undeniable. And their strong bond might just be the edge they need for their future DWTS endeavors. Amidst those left in shock were some of Stephen Nedoroscik’s fellow gymnasts as well!

America’s beloved gymnast and Stephen’s Olympic teammate Brody Malone was one of the many who was left pleasantly shocked. “I did not picture him as a dancer ever. But we got to go visit him last week, and he showed us a little clip of their dance. And he was actually pretty good. I was so shocked, with how good he can move.” Brody’s surprise was almost palpable, causing another gymnast to join in.

Fred Richards, another one of America’s gymnast gems, joined in with some playful banter. “He might not have hips like me,” he said playfully. Implying  Nedoroscik was good nonetheless! Fred’s playful banter and Brody’s awe are clear signs that Stephen’s performance was so good that even fellow gymnasts are raving about him.

Stephen Nedoroscik’s DWTS journey so far

Nedoroscik’s debut was explosive and ended up gaining a lot of traction. The transformation into a dancer was a tough yet inspiring journey for him. Stephen himself admitted, “I mean, we were aiming for at least one seven, so we were, you know, so excited. Three sevens was like amazing for us. Of course, like, we didn’t win today, but that wasn’t the goal. The goal was to get one seven. We got three. It was awesome.”

Routines the Stephen-Rylee duo performed got their partnership growing stronger. As Rylee says, “All the critiques were something that can be applied, and I know he will apply it and get better at it, so I think it’s a great start.” Even though he may not have ‘hips like Fred Richards,’ his performances have shown he’s got the rhythm, determination, and charisma to keep the audience hooked.

With a year that is nothing short of remarkable behind him, Stephen venturing into DWTS is just the cherry on top! It is also a clear sign to watch out for the name Stephen Nedoroscik; his story is only just unraveling.