‘Pommel Horse Guy’ Stephen Nedoroscik Set for ‘Dancing With the Stars’
Stephen Nedoroscik, widely known online as “Pommel Horse Guy” after his breakout gymnastics performance at the Paris Olympics, has been confirmed as the first celebrity on the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars.
“From Paris to #DWTS!🥉 We’re thrilled to welcome pommel horse legend @stephen_nedoroscik as the first star of the season,” the official DWTS Instagram account posted Thursday.
Nedoroscik was swept up in the internet’s Olympics obsession when he was labeled the “Pommel Horse Guy” in viral memes.
The bespectacled 25-year-old won over fans when he shed his seemingly introverted demeanor to reveal a bronze medal-winning athlete, earning Team USA’s first podium since 2008 in the men’s team final. Nedoroscik also won a bronze in the individual pommel horse event. Many celebrated his zenned-out behavior, comparing him to Superman’s Clark Kent.
Nedoroscik, for his part, told Today he loved the memes. “I’m representing people who wear glasses well,” he said. He also noted that shedding the glasses really does make him quite blind. “I don’t even really see when I’m doing my gymnastics,” he said. “It’s all in the hands. I can feel everything.”
Dancing With the Stars‘ upcoming 33rd season premieres Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+, next day on Hulu. More cast members are to be announced in due course.
The Paris Olympics gifted social media with a number of fan-favorite athletes, as both new and familiar faces captivated audiences around the world. Read The Hollywood Reporter‘s overview of Paris 2024’s breakout viral stars here.
