How do you follow up two Olympic bronze medals, instant social media sainthood, and the time of your life in Paris?
Stephen Nedoroscik knows the only correct answer: Dancing With the Stars!
Everyone’s favorite pommel horse guy will compete on Season 33 (!!) of the reality TV juggernaut—and truthfully, I couldn’t think of a better fit if our collective childhood Olympic dreams depended on it.
Nedoroscik, you remember, shot to superstardom during the men’s artistic gymnastics finals at the Paris Olympics last month, where he waited in the wings for the final routine of the final rotation—with a podium spot for Team USA on the line—and then nailed it.
Images of the 25-year-old bespectacled (here’s why he wears those glasses) engineering school grad/Rubik’s cube master/pommel horse specialist relaxing ahead of the biggest moment of his life quickly became the stuff of internet meme gold (I mean . . . the accuracy!).
In the aftermath of his bronze-medal-securing performance, America only fell more in love with the self-described “nerd” and his endearing personality and enviable work ethic.
As for the ballroom, Nedoroscik will be the first male gymnast to be part of a Dancing With the Stars cast. The announcement was made on Good Morning America today, and Nedoroscik said he’s looking forward to having fun in the competition. “It’s kind of hard to combine pommel horse and dancing,” he said, “I’m sure I’ll find a way to do it.”
Whether or not we see any gymnastics moves on the dance floor, one thing’s for sure: we’ll be rooting for the pommel horse guy to nail his final routine and win that mirror ball trophy on DWTS—and maybe give us a few more golden meme moments along the way.
Season 33 of DWTS premiers Tuesday, September 17th on ABC and Disney+.
Good luck, Stephen!