Since he stole the hearts of Olympics watchers nationwide with his Pommel Horse routine, bronze medalist Stephen Nedoroscik has risen to sizable fame. From X memes likening the gymnastic star to a “sleeper agent” or a real-life Clark Kent, fans worldwide have grown to adore Nedoroscik for his skill, smarts and joy. Aside from his athletic endeavors, viewers also know him for his ability to solve a Rubik’s Cube in breakneck time and his inability to see without his glasses. Nedoroscik wears glasses due to his eye diseases Strabismus and Coloboma, yet he must take them off for gymnastics events. Viewers admire the newfound star for this quality since he cannot see during his routines and yet performs them utilizing his tactile memory.
“I like [Nedoroscik’s] personality and how genuinely positive he is towards everything. He is such a happy person and a good influence. I think he was chosen [for ‘Dancing With the Stars’ (DWTS)] because of his unique talents and just his overall performance in the Olympics. I think they love the fact that he is an Olympic athlete and a complete nerd at the same time and he spreads joy throughout his whole team,” magnet sophomore Durelle Huang said.
Following his newfound fame, “Good Morning America” announced Nedoroscik as the first celebrity in season 33 of DWTS August 22, serving as the first male gymnast in DWTS history to contend for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. Less than two weeks later, September 4, the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) revealed the rest of the lineup for the current season, including Nedoroscik’s fellow American Olympic medalist, rugby player Ilona Maher. Fans raved over the cast list, specifically, the inclusion of America’s newest sweetheart and favorite pommel horse professional.
The show paired Nedoroscik with Rylee Arnold: a DWTS pro from season 32 and an experienced ballroom dancer. Arnold grew up dancing and premiered on “Dancing with the Stars: Juniors” in 2018 at only 13 years old. This iconic duo, humorously named “Team Arnold Pommel,” took the internet by storm with their engaging content. Instagram reels displaying behind-the-scenes rehearsal snippets and comical blooper videos from the duo excited fans for the adored partners’ performance.
When the time came for week one of DWTS, audiences all around the nation tuned in to watch their favorite celebrities. As Team Arnold Pommel waltzed onto the dance floor, fans could already see witty references to Nedoroscik’s social media fame. A gargantuan Rubik’s cube — known as the gymnast’s intellectual specialty — hung from the ceiling, accompanied by holographic colored squares on the floor and backdrop to represent the toy. Nedoroscik started on the stage as “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen began to play, taking off his glasses to the first beat of the song. Arnold joined him as the pair danced to the upbeat melody, performing a series of leg kicks and energetic moves, including a front handspring and Nedoroscik’s straddle jump over Arnold’s head into the routine. Ending in confetti, Arnold and Nedoroscik’s routine was completed with smiles and cheers from the audience.
“I think [Nedoroscik] was chosen for season 33 of DWTS because he played a very pivotal part in supporting the growth of the men’s gymnastics team through his platform on social media and his incredible talent. When I watched his first performance, I was starstruck. It was so entertaining and it grabbed my attention from the first look. It was not boring whatsoever and their energy level was radiating off of them,” magnet sophomore Claire Doucette said.
After the long-awaited performances, viewers voted for their favorite duos and choreography of the night. Though Nedoroscik and Arnold received a score of 21 out of 30, the duo tied with Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson for third place out of thirteen teams.
As duos prepare for week two of the show with the theme “Oscar’s Night,” audiences countdown to see the creative dances each pair performs. Arnold and Nedoroscik will dance to “Superman: Main Theme” from the movie “Superman” (1978) in a Paso Doble-style production. Fans can tune in to the next episode September 24 at 8 p.m. on Disney+ or the ABC channel to see each dance and the inevitable elimination of the team with the lowest score and least amount of votes.
