‘The best things in life are the ones you never saw coming.’ Stephen Nedoroscik is a perfect example of that. He’s not just a gymnast—he’s a puzzle master, a dancer, a reality TV star, and someone who has two eye diseases. He’s the perfect mix of skill and imperfection, yet the way he carries himself is truly one of a kind. This 26-year-old U.S. gymnast clinched third place on the pommel horse just five days after helping Team USA win a bronze medal—its first in 16 years. Along the way, he’s captured the hearts of fans with his nerdy yet endearing personality.

After going viral during the 2024 Olympics for both his win and his nerdy charm, Nedoroscik entered a new world by competing on —and he’s absolutely crushing it there, too. What lies ahead for this athlete, you may wonder? It seems he has no intention of slowing down, as his sights are now firmly set on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. But here’s the catch—it’s not about the financial gain. Sure, a medal could bring him like $15,000 for bronze or $37,500 for gold; Nedoroscik’s genuine drive stems from a more profound source.

Recently, on November 15, Stephen Nedoroscik made an appearance on the Shawn & Andrew Podcasts, hosted by former Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and former NFL player Andrew East. During the conversation about his career, Shawn asked him, “Are you going to run for 28?” referring to the LA 2028 Olympics. With a beautiful smile, Nedoroscik responded, “100%, like that has always been the goal. I literally said it before 2024, I was like, no matter what happens, I’m going for 2028. I just love the sport too much to let it go.”

Andrew East then inquired about Stephens’ motivations. Whether he was driven by the challenge of solving puzzles or the desire, for gain and recognition; however Stephens’ response was purely of an Olympian. He shared what you might expect from someone truly driven by passion, saying, “It’s not financial at all. In fact, I didn’t expect to really make any money off of gymnastics. I think it’s more of just a pride thing.”

Stephen Nedoroscik further added, “So it’s like, I don’t know when the journey will end, but as long as I’m getting better and still enjoying the sport and my body can handle it, I’m going to continue. 100% going to continue.” However, as an athlete aiming for excellence in their field of expertise. The inquiry that lingers is this: what is the actual income an athlete can expect from participating in such an event as the Olympics?

After gymnastics and dancing, Stephen Nedoroscik reveals his next big goals

During the Olympics competition stage athletes may face discrepancies, between their accomplishments and financial rewards. It has been noted that gymnasts who do not secure any medals do not receive any compensation for their work. However, those who successfully earn a medal do get some rewards although it may not be deemed significant for them to retire early or anything of the sort. In the United States athletes receive $15,000 for clinching a bronze medal $22,500 for securing silver and $37,500 for grabbing the gold. The query that comes to our minds is this; how much money does Stephen Nedoroscik make from his accomplishments.

Nedoroscik has a net worth estimated to be around $1 million, as of 2024. Looking ahead, Nedoroscik doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon. While gymnastics and dancing are taking center stage for now, he’s also got his electrical engineering degree to fall back on in the future. “I’m like that sort of nerdy guy that was in your math class. I love chess. I love Rubik’s cubes. I’m an electrical engineer,” he says.

“There’s a certain stigma that comes with being a horse guy and it’s that you’re kind of quirky, kind of nerdy. I just want people to know I’m just a regular dude who’s managed to find his talent on the pommel horse and has gone very far with it.” With his mix of skills and passions, Stephen Nedoroscik isn’t just sitting on his laurels. Whatever comes next, you can bet he’ll roll with the punches and give it his all, just like he always has.