Additional Coverage:
- Stephen Nedoroscik Got Drug Tested After His Iconic Pommel Horse Routine at 2024 Paris Olympics (newsbreak.com)
After executing his acclaimed pommel horse routine at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Stephen Nedoroscik was immediately taken for drug testing. The 25-year-old athlete shared with GQ that it took him three hours post-competition to finally check his phone due to the testing process. Unbeknownst to him, his fame had exploded online during that time, drawing comparisons to Clark Kent because of his glasses.
Nedoroscik’s unexpected virality became apparent only later that evening while dining with his family. He recounted being alerted by his girlfriend about trending on Twitter, an announcement that took him by surprise. This newfound attention came after Nedoroscik and his teammates, including Brody Malone, Fred Richard, Asher Hong, and Paul Juda, clinched the U.S. men’s gymnastics team’s first Olympic medal in 16 years—a bronze on July 29.
Describing the event as the pinnacle of his life, Nedoroscik felt a blend of joy and astonishment over the achievement. Despite the long wait for his event, where he performed last, he chose to view it positively, aiming to be a “highlight” of the competition.
Nedoroscik continued to impress by securing another bronze in the individual men’s pommel horse event, finishing behind Ireland’s Rhys McClenaghan and Kazakhstan’s Nariman Kurbanov. Amidst reflecting on his Olympic journey, he admitted to Teen Vogue that the anticipation of immense pressure never materialized as he had feared; instead, he thrived, relishing the moment.
As the Olympics wind down, Nedoroscik looks forward to a well-deserved break from training to rest and recuperate. However, his break won’t be lengthy as he’s already setting sights on higher goals, aiming for a more lustrous medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, as hinted in his recent post on X.