Featured Columnist IVJuly 30, 2024
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images
United States gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik became an overnight sensation at the 2024 Paris Games on Monday.
From watching him wait all day to compete in his one event, the pommel horse—gathering his thoughts as he waited, eyes closed and glasses on—to his fantastic showing that helped the United States clinch the bronze medal in the men’s team competition, fans could not get enough of Nedoroscik.
NBC Olympics & Paralympics @NBCOlympics
Pommel horse specialist Stephen Nedoroscik CRUSHES the final routine that clinched Team USA’s first Olympic men’s gymnastics team medal since 2008. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/R303bZ0eQU
The memes, as you might imagine, were on point:
NBC Olympics & Paralympics @NBCOlympics
Stephen Nedoroscik, the Clark Kent of pommel horse! 🫡🇺🇸 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/1HfYFSbJvH
BetMGM 🦁 @BetMGM
Stephen Nedoroscik on the sideline vs. Stephen Nedoroscik on the pommel horse pic.twitter.com/YUo5t9NBYs
Caitlin @BrightCuPenny
Stephen Nedoroscik, everyone. pic.twitter.com/zCT0ytAwTO
But the Paris Games aren’t over for Nedoroscik. He’ll attempt to become the first American man to win the gold medal in the individual pommel horse competition since Peter Vidmar did so at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Only two American men have ever claimed gold in the event.
Coverage of Nedoroscik’s attempt to become the third will be featured on Peacock this Saturday, Aug. 3 at 11:10 a.m. ET.
He is among the favorites to win the gold. He finished second in the qualifying with a score of 15.200, equaling the score of Ireland’s Rhys McClenaghan.
His place on the U.S. men’s team was somewhat in question, however, given that he only competes in pommel horse.
“I was completely aware of it,” he told the Washington Post’s Emily Giambalvo regarding that uncertainty about whether he deserved to be on the team. “I really wanted to make the Olympic team, and I knew that there was going to be backlash to it. I do one event compared to these guys that are phenomenal all-arounders. And I am a phenomenal horse guy. But it’s hard to fit on a five-guy team.”
Without him, however, the United States probably wouldn’t have claimed the bronze.
And now he has the chance to earn a second medal—potentially gold—and cement his place as an American pommel legend.
