Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik needs his footwork to shine on ‘DWTS’ (unique)

After making headlines over the summer season for his bronze medal-winning efficiency on the Paris Olympics, American gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, affectionally generally known as “The Specialist” and “Pommel Horse Man,” is prepared for his footwork to take heart stage on Dancing With the Stars. 

The pommel horse is a speciality that usually makes use of one’s “core and higher physique,” the Olympian admitted to Leisure Weekly on the dance competitors’s current season 33 press line, that means his legs typically don’t obtain the identical exercise. 

“I’m excited to get it, you realize? I do not use these in any respect,” Nedoroscik teased, referring to his legs and ft. “So it is about time they get the highlight.”

The athlete, who gained an extra bronze medal as a part of this 12 months’s record-shattering U.S. males’s gymnastic staff, rose to fame on the Video games for his advanced routines and calm demeanor earlier than hitting the ground. His elimination of his glasses previous to his medal-winning performances shortly drew comparisons to Clark Kent’s transformation into Superman — and even led to him receiving a video message from actor David Corenswet, who performs the Man of Metal in James Gunn’s Superman function movie due July 2025.

When requested if he’d hold his glasses on within the ballroom, Nedoroscik replied, “Undecided but.” The 25-year-old, who has a number of eye situations, jokingly added that he may very nicely discover himself with out them if one thing goes unsuitable throughout his and professional associate Rylee Arnold’s efficiency. 

“You by no means know which one in every of these kicks is gonna [make them go] pew,” he stated, making a hovering sound.

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Whereas a number of feminine gymnasts have competed on Dancing With the Stars (together with Simone Biles, Laurie Hernandez, Ali Raisman, and Shawn Johnson), Nedoroscik is the sequence’ first-ever male gymnast. After returning house from the Olympics in August, he introduced that he’d be competing on the present reside on Good Morning America. 

His household was, naturally, thrilled after listening to in regards to the alternative. “I’ve a number of members of the family who Dancing With the Stars is their favourite present of all time, they usually’re so excited — particularly excited as a result of I am paired with Rylee, they usually love her,” Nedoroscik stated. “Rylee is the GOAT. However anyhow, they’re so excited to fly down and watch some reveals.” 

Nedoroscik admitted that he’s acquired “no dance background in any respect,” however maintained that it simply supplies a “clear slate” for Arnold to show him. On the time of the press occasion, the pair had already accomplished a number of of their rehearsals. 

“It’s been nice. It has been so enjoyable,” Arnold stated about their practices. “Stephen works so laborious, and we have now an excellent time collectively. It’s been so good.”

He’s accompanied this season by one other Olympian: bronze medal-winning rugby participant Ilona Maher, who he hadn’t met till the present’s full solid reveal in September.  

“Surprisingly, we did not have any crossover. I believe each of us had been simply so locked into our competitions that it wasn’t a social occasion for us,” Nedoroscik defined. “However now assembly one another right here, we acquired to speak lots and he or she’s so cool. She’s hilarious, too.” 

Whereas profitable the present’s coveted Mirrorball trophy can be an additional deal with on an already-decorated 12 months for Nedoroscik, he considers it an thrilling “byproduct” of his aim for the present. “I simply actually wish to get good at dance. I wish to fall in love with it, actually get into it, see how good I can get,” he stated. “And if that will get me the trophy, that’d be freaking superior.” 

Dancing With the Stars season 33 will premiere Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the following day on Hulu.