Latest news with #Nedoroscik
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘Pommel Horse Guy' — a year after fame found him at Paris Olympics — is back for more
NEW ORLEANS — The glasses haven't gone anywhere. And they aren't going anywhere. The same goes for Stephen Nedoroscik's hair, which remains a bit of a floppy, curly brown mess. Nor, insists the gymnast who became forever known as 'Pommel Horse Guy' after winning a pair of bronze medals in Paris, has his devotion to the discipline that made him one of the breakout stars of the 2024 Olympics faded in the least. While Nedoroscik leaned into the fame, most notably a long run on 'Dancing With the Stars' last fall, followed immediately by a stint co-hosting the show's national tour, he never once considered putting away his grips for good and trying to go Hollywood full-time. Sorry, that was never the point of all this. Three months ago, Nedoroscik walked back through the doors of EVO Gymnastics in Florida and quietly went back to work. And when the U.S. Championships begin on Thursday night, he'll hop onto the event that, at 26, he remains in some ways obsessed with after all these years and begin again. 'At the end of the day, I am a gymnast and I blew up for being a gymnast,' Nedoroscik said. 'And I have sort of a mindset where I don't really want to be famous. I get, like, anxiety. So it's like I kind of accept the fact that having this moment was amazing, but eventually that wave will end.' In a way, Nedoroscik hopped off before he had a chance to be pushed. He's well aware of the tropes of all the teen movies where the main character starts off as an outcast of sorts, then one flash of talent, one splash of popularity, and one makeover montage later, they emerge as a different person. He had no interest in sticking to that script, though the lure is certainly intoxicating. When he drilled his dismount at Bercy Arena during the men's team final last July to clinch the biggest international medal by the U.S. men's gymnastics program since the 2008 Olympics, he didn't think it would lead to a spot on 'The Tonight Show,' with host Jimmy Fallon rapping a song on how to spell his name. The only contestant in 'Dancing With the Stars' two-decade run to incorporate a pommel horse into a dance routine didn't imagine being a fixture on national television for two months either. Yet that happened too. Quickly followed by weeks crisscrossing the country as one of the faces of the show's annual tour. Stephen Nedoroscik waited his whole life for one routine. The US pommel horse specialist nailed he appreciated the support, the messages to his Instagram account that cut through the noise the most weren't the ones talking about the way he navigated a ballroom floor, but from mothers who saw Nedoroscik and his American teammates triumph in Paris and decided it was time to sign their sons up for a sport that always seems to be fighting for its survival. 'Like that's what it's all about, honestly, because this is a great sport,' he said. 'And I think it's the best sport, especially for hyper kids like I was.' That almost relentless energy hasn't gone anywhere. Sharing a stage with Olympic teammates on Wednesday afternoon, Nedoroscik leaned over to Brody Malone and asked how his hair looked. When Malone responded 'disgusting' in the kind of good-naturedly sarcastic tone that has been the love language of guys everywhere for eons, Nedoroscik's laugh echoed throughout the room. It's one of the many reasons Nedoroscik is happy to be back to what passes for his normal. He understands competing just three months after returning to training might be asking a bit much of his body. The early weeks in the gym were humbling and eye-opening. Yet interspersed with the aches and pains were the occasional reminders that yeah, he's still pretty good at this. How good? Well, that's one of the reasons the Worcester, Massachusetts, native is already pointing toward the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. There's a chance his best gymnastics might still be ahead of him. 'I love to just push myself as far as I can go and I love to ride this wave, like right on the edge of possibility and like, 'Am I gonna just die out there?'' he said. 'But I do it for the thrill and I do it for the love of the sport, so I want to keep going.' While keeping it real at the same time. Asked how he stayed grounded as his profile soared, he shrugged. While his number of followerson social media has swelled to over a million, his head remains in very much the same place. 'I do think it is sort of my inherent nature to just stick true to myself,' he said. 'I don't really try to put up a fake face in any situation that I'm in and I think so long as I do that, I am not going to change.'
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
A year after fame found him in Paris, Stephen Nedoroscik, aka 'Pommel Horse Guy,' is back for more
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The glasses haven't gone anywhere. And they aren't going anywhere. The same goes for Stephen Nedoroscik's hair, which remains a bit of a floppy, curly brown mess. Nor, insists the gymnast who became forever known as 'Pommel Horse Guy' after winning a pair of bronze medals in Paris, has his devotion to the discipline that made him one of the breakout stars of the 2024 Olympics faded in the least. While Nedoroscik leaned into the fame, most notably a long run on 'Dancing With the Stars' last fall, followed immediately by a stint co-hosting the show's national tour, he never once considered putting away his grips for good and trying to go Hollywood full-time. Sorry, that was never the point of all this. Three months ago, Nedoroscik walked back through the doors of EVO Gymnastics in Florida and quietly went back to work. And when the U.S. Championships begin on Thursday night, he'll hop onto the event that, at 26, he remains in some ways obsessed with after all these years and begin again. 'At the end of the day, I am a gymnast and I blew up for being a gymnast,' Nedoroscik said. 'And I have sort of a mindset where I don't really want to be famous. I get, like, anxiety. So it's like I kind of accept the fact that having this moment was amazing, but eventually that wave will end.' In a way, Nedoroscik hopped off before he had a chance to be pushed. He's well aware of the tropes of all the teen movies where the main character starts off as an outcast of sorts, then one flash of talent, one splash of popularity, and one makeover montage later, they emerge as a different person. He had no interest in sticking to that script, though the lure is certainly intoxicating. When he drilled his dismount at Bercy Arena during the men's team final last July to clinch the biggest international medal by the U.S. men's gymnastics program since the 2008 Olympics, he didn't think it would lead to a spot on 'The Tonight Show,' with host Jimmy Fallon rapping a song on how to spell his name. The only contestant in 'Dancing With the Stars' two-decade run to incorporate a pommel horse into a dance routine didn't imagine being a fixture on national television for two months either. Yet that happened too. Quickly followed by weeks crisscrossing the country as one of the faces of the show's annual tour. While he appreciated the support, the messages to his Instagram account that cut through the noise the most weren't the ones talking about the way he navigated a ballroom floor, but from mothers who saw Nedoroscik and his American teammates triumph in Paris and decided it was time to sign their sons up for a sport that always seems to be fighting for its survival. 'Like that's what it's all about, honestly, because this is a great sport,' he said. 'And I think it's the best sport, especially for hyper kids like I was.' That almost relentless energy hasn't gone anywhere. Sharing a stage with Olympic teammates on Wednesday afternoon, Nedoroscik leaned over to Brody Malone and asked how his hair looked. When Malone responded 'disgusting" in the kind of good-naturedly sarcastic tone that has been the love language of guys everywhere for eons, Nedoroscik's laugh echoed throughout the room. It's one of the many reasons Nedoroscik is happy to be back to what passes for his normal. He understands competing just three months after returning to training might be asking a bit much of his body. The early weeks in the gym were humbling and eye-opening. Yet interspersed with the aches and pains were the occasional reminders that yeah, he's still pretty good at this. How good? Well, that's one of the reasons the Worcester, Massachusetts, native is already pointing toward the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. There's a chance his best gymnastics might still be ahead of him. 'I love to just push myself as far as I can go and I love to ride this wave, like right on the edge of possibility and like, 'Am I gonna just die out there?'" he said. 'But I do it for the thrill and I do it for the love of the sport, so I want to keep going.' While keeping it real at the same time. Asked how he stayed grounded as his profile soared, he shrugged. While his number of followers on social media 'I do think it is sort of my inherent nature to just stick true to myself,' he said. 'I don't really try to put up a fake face in any situation that I'm in and I think so long as I do that, I am not going to change.' ___
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
A year after fame found him in Paris, Stephen Nedoroscik, aka ‘Pommel Horse Guy,' is back for more
Sorry, that was never the point of all this. Three months ago, Nedoroscik walked back through the doors of EVO Gymnastics in Florida and quietly went back to work. And when the US Championships begin on Thursday night, he'll hop onto the event that, at 26, he remains in some ways obsessed with after all these years and begin again. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'At the end of the day, I am a gymnast and I blew up for being a gymnast,' Nedoroscik said. 'And I have sort of a mindset where I don't really want to be famous. I get, like, anxiety. So it's like I kind of accept the fact that having this moment was amazing, but eventually that wave will end.' Advertisement In a way, Nedoroscik hopped off before he had a chance to be pushed. He's well aware of the tropes of all the teen movies where the main character starts off as an outcast of sorts, then one flash of talent, one splash of popularity, and one makeover montage later, they emerge as a different person. Advertisement He had no interest in sticking to that script, though the lure is certainly intoxicating. When he drilled his dismount at Bercy Arena during the men's team final last July to clinch the biggest international medal by the US men's gymnastics program since the 2008 Olympics, he didn't think it would lead to a spot on 'The Tonight Show,' with host Jimmy Fallon rapping a song on how to spell his name. The only contestant in 'Dancing With the Stars' two-decade run to incorporate a pommel horse into a dance routine didn't imagine being a fixture on national television for two months either. Yet that happened too. Quickly followed by weeks crisscrossing the country as one of the faces of the show's annual tour. While he appreciated the support, the messages to his Instagram account that cut through the noise the most weren't the ones talking about the way he navigated a ballroom floor, but from mothers who saw Nedoroscik and his American teammates triumph in Paris and decided it was time to sign their sons up for a sport that always seems to be fighting for its survival. 'Like that's what it's all about, honestly, because this is a great sport,' he said. 'And I think it's the best sport, especially for hyper kids like I was.' That almost relentless energy hasn't gone anywhere. Sharing a stage with Olympic teammates on Wednesday afternoon, Nedoroscik leaned over to Brody Malone and asked how his hair looked. When Malone responded 'disgusting' in the kind of good-naturedly sarcastic tone that has been the love language of guys everywhere for eons, Nedoroscik's laugh echoed throughout the room. Advertisement It's one of the many reasons Nedoroscik is happy to be back to what passes for his normal. He understands competing just three months after returning to training might be asking a bit much of his body. The early weeks in the gym were humbling and eye-opening. Yet interspersed with the aches and pains were the occasional reminders that yeah, he's still pretty good at this. How good? Well, that's one of the reasons the Worcester, Massachusetts, native is already pointing toward the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. There's a chance his best gymnastics might still be ahead of him. 'I love to just push myself as far as I can go and I love to ride this wave, like right on the edge of possibility and like, 'Am I gonna just die out there?'' he said. 'But I do it for the thrill and I do it for the love of the sport, so I want to keep going.' While keeping it real at the same time. Asked how he stayed grounded as his profile soared, he shrugged. While his number of followers on social media has swelled to over a million, his head remains in very much the same place. 'I do think it is sort of my inherent nature to just stick true to myself,' he said. 'I don't really try to put up a fake face in any situation that I'm in and I think so long as I do that, I am not going to change.' Advertisement
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
A year after fame found him in Paris, Stephen Nedoroscik, aka ‘Pommel Horse Guy,' is back for more
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The glasses haven't gone anywhere. And they aren't going anywhere. The same goes for Stephen Nedoroscik's hair, which remains a bit of a floppy, curly brown mess. Nor, insists the gymnast who became forever known as 'Pommel Horse Guy' after winning a pair of bronze medals in Paris, has his devotion to the discipline that made him one of the breakout stars of the 2024 Olympics faded in the least. While Nedoroscik leaned into the fame, most notably a long run on 'Dancing With the Stars' last fall, followed immediately by a stint co-hosting the show's national tour, he never once considered putting away his grips for good and trying to go Hollywood full-time. Sorry, that was never the point of all this. Three months ago, Nedoroscik walked back through the doors of EVO Gymnastics in Florida and quietly went back to work. And when the U.S. Championships begin on Thursday night, he'll hop onto the event that, at 26, he remains in some ways obsessed with after all these years and begin again. 'At the end of the day, I am a gymnast and I blew up for being a gymnast,' Nedoroscik said. 'And I have sort of a mindset where I don't really want to be famous. I get, like, anxiety. So it's like I kind of accept the fact that having this moment was amazing, but eventually that wave will end.' In a way, Nedoroscik hopped off before he had a chance to be pushed. He's well aware of the tropes of all the teen movies where the main character starts off as an outcast of sorts, then one flash of talent, one splash of popularity, and one makeover montage later, they emerge as a different person. He had no interest in sticking to that script, though the lure is certainly intoxicating. When he drilled his dismount at Bercy Arena during the men's team final last July to clinch the biggest international medal by the U.S. men's gymnastics program since the 2008 Olympics, he didn't think it would lead to a spot on 'The Tonight Show,' with host Jimmy Fallon rapping a song on how to spell his name. The only contestant in 'Dancing With the Stars' two-decade run to incorporate a pommel horse into a dance routine didn't imagine being a fixture on national television for two months either. Yet that happened too. Quickly followed by weeks crisscrossing the country as one of the faces of the show's annual tour. While he appreciated the support, the messages to his Instagram account that cut through the noise the most weren't the ones talking about the way he navigated a ballroom floor, but from mothers who saw Nedoroscik and his American teammates triumph in Paris and decided it was time to sign their sons up for a sport that always seems to be fighting for its survival. 'Like that's what it's all about, honestly, because this is a great sport,' he said. 'And I think it's the best sport, especially for hyper kids like I was.' That almost relentless energy hasn't gone anywhere. Sharing a stage with Olympic teammates on Wednesday afternoon, Nedoroscik leaned over to Brody Malone and asked how his hair looked. When Malone responded 'disgusting' in the kind of good-naturedly sarcastic tone that has been the love language of guys everywhere for eons, Nedoroscik's laugh echoed throughout the room. It's one of the many reasons Nedoroscik is happy to be back to what passes for his normal. He understands competing just three months after returning to training might be asking a bit much of his body. The early weeks in the gym were humbling and eye-opening. Yet interspersed with the aches and pains were the occasional reminders that yeah, he's still pretty good at this. How good? Well, that's one of the reasons the Worcester, Massachusetts, native is already pointing toward the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. There's a chance his best gymnastics might still be ahead of him. 'I love to just push myself as far as I can go and I love to ride this wave, like right on the edge of possibility and like, 'Am I gonna just die out there?'' he said. 'But I do it for the thrill and I do it for the love of the sport, so I want to keep going.' While keeping it real at the same time. Asked how he stayed grounded as his profile soared, he shrugged. While his number of followers on social media has swelled to over a million, his head remains in very much the same place. 'I do think it is sort of my inherent nature to just stick true to myself,' he said. 'I don't really try to put up a fake face in any situation that I'm in and I think so long as I do that, I am not going to change.' ___ AP sports:
NBC Sports
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
Stephen Nedoroscik returns from Olympic fame, plans to ride the pommel horse through LA 2028
Stephen Nedoroscik was the breakout star of the Paris Olympic men's gymnastics competition as Pommel Horse Guy, earning team and individual bronze medals. But after taking nine months off from the sport, he is not assured more glory at this week's Xfinity U.S. Championships It's his first meet since the 2024 Games and, he hopes, his first meet on the road to a return Olympic trip at LA 2028. 'Three months leading up to a competition after a nine-month break is pretty crazy,' he said in a press conference Wednesday on the eve of nationals in New Orleans. 'So entering the gym after that long break, I kind of gave myself this little bit of buffer time to decide, is it worth pushing for USAs (national championships)? Or is it worth just taking my time with this comeback? Nick Zaccardi, 'But, pretty quickly, I started getting my skills back, like within the first few weeks, and I started feeling really confident in myself. I said, 'You know what, why not just go for it?' The worst that happens is it doesn't go well, and that's something I'm OK with. But how cool would it be if I went here and did good and after only three months of training and nine months off and just be amazing? So I wanted to take this opportunity, give it my all and kind of be self-forgiving with whatever the result is. There's a lot of reasons I might not have come here, but I've moved past all of those, and I've decided I want to be here, and I want to give it my all.' Nedoroscik followed the Paris Olympics by placing fourth on 'Dancing with the Stars' in the fall. He then toured with the show into April and played some chess. He returned to gymnastics training in Florida in May. He said his pommel horse routine this week is 'probably insanely hard for me to do, considering the circumstances.' He was the oldest on the five-man Olympic team, four of whom are competing this week. 'I'm 26 now. For a lot of gymnasts, that's kind of pushing it,' he said. 'But I've always told myself, I want to be done with the sport when my body's done with the sport. And I'm still getting better. I'm still getting better in the gym every day, and I feel like I'd be doing myself almost a dishonor to not see how far I could go with the sport. I want to continue going. When I start feeling myself, start plateauing and my body starts giving out, I think that'll be when I am finally ready to be done with the sport.' The six-man roster for October's World Championships will be named after the two-day competition in New Orleans (Thursday and Saturday for the men). There is no team event at this year's worlds. Just the individual all-around and the apparatus finals, including pommel horse (which Nedoroscik won at the 2021 Worlds). To automatically secure a spot at 2025 Worlds, a gymnast must this week win one of the six apparatus titles with a difficulty score at least equal to the best posted at the Asian and European Championships back in the spring. If fewer than six men do that across all of the events, then the rest of the team is chosen by a committee. Patrick Hoopes, who actually outscored Nedoroscik on pommel horse at the Olympic Trials, is in the nationals field and has been competing all year — both internationally and as an NCAA champion for Air Force. Hoopes had a 6.0 difficulty score at the World University Games last month. The top difficulty score from Europe and Asia was 6.2. On June 28, Nedoroscik posted a training video of a 5.8 difficulty routine — with errors, he noted — in his first week back doing full sets. He mixes that competitive mindset — including the ability to solve a Rubik's Cube in eight seconds — with a playful demeanor. Nedoroscik captioned a recent post commemorating a year since Paris with a closing line, 'Stay loose n goofy.' 'You have to be a little bit crazy to do one event for as many years as I've done it,' he said. 'But for me, it's all about going after those marginal gains. How can I make this one thing I've done for 10 years a little bit better?'
