Have you noticed that men’s gymnastics has really been struggling over the years? It’s surprising because back in 1981, the NCAA had 59 Division I men’s gymnastics programs, but by 2024, that number dropped to just 12—that’s a huge 79.6% decline! Despite this trend, there are still standout athletes like Stephen Nedoroscik who are going above and beyond.

This 25-year-old pommel horse specialist recently helped the U.S. men’s gymnastics team win a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, their first in 16 years! However, Nedoroscik, who studies at Penn State, isn’t too happy with a recent decision made by Ohio State regarding its men’s athletics program. It seems like even when some athletes are hitting their stride, there are still hurdles to jump over. What do you think about the current state of the sport?

Recently, Ohio State made headlines by removing athletic scholarships from its men’s gymnastics program, which is surprising considering it costs the university $8,572 per participant, according to the 2023 EADA survey. This decision is even more shocking given that the athletic department generated approximately $250 million in 2023, yet they can’t seem to find around $500,000 to support men’s gymnastics.

When you compare Ohio State’s participation numbers in gymnastics and ice hockey, the disparity is striking. Both sports have 21 programs, but gymnastics only has about 8,572 athletes, while ice hockey boasts an impressive 50,092.

For Stephen Nedoroscik, the news was quite shocking. He took to X to express his frustration, saying, “Ohio State removing athletic scholarships from Men’s Gymnastics. Yet again, another step backwards for MGYM. With the success of current and former NCAA gymnasts at the Olympics you’d think NCAA programs would be excited for the upcoming season, not stripping away opportunities.” It’s clear that he’s upset about this decision. While the men’s gymnastics program will remain in place despite the removal of scholarships, there’s still a lot to consider.

The NCAA has proposed a revenue-sharing model that would allow universities to set aside up to $21 million each year to share with athletes, with the cap potentially increasing as revenue grows. However, universities have cautioned that they might have to make choices that could affect other programs along the way but as soon as the Team USA men’s gymnastics team reached Paris they encountered challenging circumstances.

Stephen Nedoroscik leads the charge for Team USA’s revival in Men’s gymnastics

Team USA’s men’s gymnastics squad was driven by a goal to breathe life into men’s gymnastics as a whole during their time, at the Paris Olympics. Stephen Nedoroscik truly shone in those Games. He played a pivotal role in securing a bronze medal for his team with an impressive score of 15.300, on the pommel horse. What makes this achievement more remarkable is that he is now recognized as the American male athlete to win a medal in this event after an absence of eight years.

Stephen Nedoroscik finished just behind Nariman Kurbanov and Rhys McClenaghan, who took gold. During the team competition on July 29, his solid score played a big part in the U.S. clinching third place. Nedoroscik reflected on his routine, saying, “I just stayed in the moment… if I put this dismount up and stick the landing, we get a team medal.”

You can really feel the excitement Nedoroscik had celebrating with his teammates! On top of that, Frederick Nathaniel Richard also shined by winning a bronze medal in the men’s all-around event. And let’s not forget about Brody Malone, who was a rock for the team, competing in five out of six events and really stepping up from his qualifying performance. It’s thrilling to see these athletes succeed, and let’s see what the future holds for them!