Why Fans Love Team USA Gymnastics 'Pommel Horse Guy' Stephen Nedoroscik

An Olympics breakout star has emerged—and he is an adorably nerdy Clark Kent lookalike with eye problems.

Although men’s gymnastics consists of six events, U.S. men’s gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik appeared in Paris to perform in just one, his specialty of the pommel horse. And on Monday, his high-flying routine helped his team win a bronze medal.

While Japan and China finished first and second, Nedoroscik and his teammates earned third place for the first U.S. men’s gymnastics team Olympic medal since 2008.

Ever since, fans have been going nuts on social media over the unassuming bespectacled Nedoroscik turning into a superhero.

Viewers were fascinated watching Stephen wearing thick glasses, carrying a backpack and waiting three hours to perform in the very last event for Team USA.

The skinny gymnast appeared to be meditating as he sat on the sidelines—or was Nedoroscik actually taking a nap?

He became known as “pommel horse guy” on X/Twitter.

Users were charmed by the “nerdy kid” and commented on his thick, square-framed glasses—which, as it turned out, disguised the heart of a champion.

As X fan Marie noted, she was "obsessed with this one guy on the US men's gymnastics team who looks like he's getting his phd in anthropology and his only job is pommel horse."

Another X user, Megan, wrote, "Obsessed with this guy on the US men's gymnastics team who's only job is pommel horse, so he just sits there until he's activated like a sleeper agent, whips off his glasses like Clark Kent and does a pommel horse routine that helps deliver the team its first medal in 16 years."

Some X users even called Nedoroscik their “#1 favorite Olympic athlete.”

But few knew that he has previously talked about being cross-eyed.

So where did Nedoroscik (whose name strangely comes close to nerd) come from, how did he get to the Olympics, what is his eye condition, and who is he dating?

Read on for Parade.com’s guide to everything you need to know about Stephen Nedoroscik!

Where is Stephen Nedoroscik from?

The athlete was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. His grandparents are from Slovakia.

How old is Stephen Nedoroscik?

The gymnast is 25 years old. His birth date is Oct. 28, 1998.

When did Stephen Nedoroscik start gymnastics?

Many gymnastics stars begin young, and Nedoroscik is no exception. He started the sport in 2003, when he was about 5 years old.

Why did he specialize in the pommel horse?

When Stephen Nedoroscik was young, he competed in all of the men’s gymnastics events, but in high school, realized that his strength was solely in pommel horse, not in the other disciplines.

What is the pommel horse?

The pommel horse is a leather covered form with two plastic handles (pommels). The gymnast holds the pommels and/or the horse itself with his hands for support as he moves his body through the air in various tricks above the horse—without stopping.

What did Stephen Nedoroscik do before the Olympics?

The low-key cutie has competed in college at Pennsylvania State University and EVO gymnastics in Sarasota, Florida. He won first place prizes at the FIG world cup, organized by the International Gymnastics Federation.

How did Nedoroscik qualify for the Olympics?

Stephen Nedoroscik competed in pommel horse in both the 2024 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships and the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, where his combined score placed him first. He was selected for the U.S. Olympic Team for 2024.

Who's on Team USA men's gymnastics team?

Brody Malone, Fred Richard, Asher Hong and Paul Juda comprise the five-man men's gymnastics team with Nedoroscik.

What did Stephen Nedoroscik score at the Olympics team event?

Stephen Nedoroscik usually competes without his glasses, and he removed them to do his pommel routine, which received a huge score of 14.866. As soon as Nedoroscik completed his dismount, he pumped his fists in celebration and was greeted on the sidelines with hugs and wild cheers from his teammates. They even picked him up off the ground, knowing he'd secured their team medal.

What is wrong with Stephen Nedoroscik’s eyes?

A couple of years ago, the gymnast revealed on TikTok that he has strabismus. “Basically, I’m cross-eyed,” he said. While one of Nedoroscik’s eyes faces inward, the other eye focuses on something. On TikTok, he noted that he can alternate which eye is dominant. “I shift my world viewpoint from one eye to the other,” he stated. Nedoroscik wanted to find a doctor to talk to about his eyes.

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Does he have other eye issues?

Nedoroscik has hinted with a #coloboma social media post that part of the tissue that makes up one of his eyes might be missing.

Who is Stephen Nedoroscik dating?

Stephen Nedoroscik has been dating Penn State gymnast Tess McCracken, 26, for eight years. “Happy anniversary, my love,” the 5’4” beauty gushed on Instagram to mark the occasion earlier this summer with a photo of them together.

After she watched his triumph in Paris, McCracken posted a sweet Instagram photo of a pose with his team bronze medal. She captioned it, “The most insane, magical day watching you close it out to bring home the first team medal for USA in sixteen years. Words can’t capture how proud I am of you.”

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What did an expert reveal about him?

The USA men's gymnastics team has flown a bit under the radar due to the excitement over the women's team led by Simone Biles. But an NBC commentator noted that Nedoroscik has been working quietly at his craft for ages: “He has spent years perfecting a single move on the pommel horse.”

And it paid off big time, with a medal and internet stardom!

Does Stephen Nedoroscik have a chance at another medal?

Yes. Nedoroscik could bring home an individual medal on Saturday, Aug. 3.

When will 'Pommel Horse Guy' be competing again?

He will be competing on the pommel horse again in the men’s gymnastics individual apparatus final in Paris on Saturday, Aug. 3.