Stephen John Nedoroscik gymnast on team USA at the Paris Olympics wins a bronze medal and millions of hearts too.
The Olympics delight us because they are always a mix of established stars (Ledecky, Lebron and Le Snoop Dog) and newcomers exploding on this world stage with their grit, poise and heroics.
The Paris 2024 Olympics have been no exception. American gymnast Stephen John Nedoroscik, 25 (all 5’-7” of him) has seemingly come from nowhere to secure team and individual bronze medals in the Pommel Horse and – in the process – win the hearts of millions of spectators.
An Overnight Success Years in The Making
Like most every Olympic medalist, Nedoroscik is not an overnight success. If you were following international gymnastics the past three years you would be quite familiar with him. Nedoroscik was world champion in the event in 2021. His routines are a surreal combination of power and artistic movement: he is constantly rotating 360 degrees pivoting effortlessly from left to right hand, swinging, twisting and at times suspending his entire body frozen above the horse with one arm.
Nedoroscik began doing gymnastics at five in local clubs in Worcester Massachusetts where he was born. By the time he got to high school he had already decided to specialize in the pommel horse. He won a Junior Olympic national title in the event in 2015 and 2016.
From Square to Hollywood Hunk
Prior to every routine on the pommel horse Nedoroscik goes through the same process: He removes a set of dark-rimmed glasses and pauses and centers himself.
