'Pommel horse guy' Stephen Nedoroscik will compete on 'Dancing with the Stars'

Penn State University grad Stephen Nedoroscik, now known as the “pommel horse guy” following his performance at the Paris Olympic Games, is headed for a new stage — “Dancing with the Stars.”

Nedoroscik, 25, from Massachusetts, was the first celebrity announced for Season 33 of the reality competition show, NBC News reported, and the rest of the cast will be announced at a later date.

Part of the U.S. Men’s Gymnastics team — which took home a bronze, its first team medal in 16 years — Nedoroscik became America’s “pommel horse hero” after winning an individual bronze medal in the event, the BBC reported.

He became an “overnight internet sensation,” according to the BBC, and social media users began comparing him to Clark Kent, Superman’s alter-ego, who wears glasses. Nedoroscik took his glasses off to compete.

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. pic.twitter.com/0D1ZqJjFa1

— Megan ???? (@MegWritesBooks) July 29, 2024

do i know anything about Pommel Horse? no.

was i sitting at my desk stressed out about an electrical engineer from Penn State’s ability to perform a good routine at 2pm on a Monday? yes

Happy Olympics

— arielle (@arielle2252) July 29, 2024

Pommel horse guy has inspired a generation. There is currently kid in the Little League World Series juggling rubix cubes on ESPN pic.twitter.com/wCJyWPUF0l

— Maggie LaMaack (@MaggieLaMaack) August 20, 2024

Did you hear that sound? It’s dozens of romance writers opening a blank word doc after seeing this guy take off his glasses and do his thing on pommel horse. https://t.co/03i5aOmfqS

— Chelsea M. Cameron (@chel_c_cam) July 29, 2024

I cannot remember the last time I so badly wanted to see someone on #DWTS as I did Stephen Nedoroscik - and he's going to be dancing! Let's go, Pommel Horse Guy! I hope you get a pro who will spotlight you as well as challenge you. https://t.co/38YDPmPZqc

— Lisa Reynolds (@CopyinCity) August 22, 2024

A lover of Rubik’s Cubes, he is now being referred to as Mr. Pommel Horse, and his girlfriend changed her profile on X to “Ms. Pommel Horse,” the BBC reported.

Nedoroscik told The Today Show that he thinks the memes are “awesome” and represent people who wear glasses “well,” according to the BBC.

“The thing about pommel horse is if I keep [the glasses] on, they’re going to fly somewhere,” he said to The Today Show, the BBC reported. “I don’t even really see when I’m doing my gymnastics; It’s all in the hands — I can feel everything.”

Nedoroscik uses his platform to support individuals with low vision, as he lives with strabismus, he previously shared on TikTok, NBC News said.

@gymnaststeve I literally cannot find anything on the subject!! Tag some doctors in the comments #eyeproblems #Strabismus #coloboma ♬ original sound - Stephen Nedoroscik ????????

The new season of “Dancing with the Stars” will premiere at 8 p.m. Sept. 17 on ABC and Disney+, with next day viewing on Hulu, according to NBC News. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough will return as co-hosts. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough will return to the judges’ table as well, NBC News said.