Gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, also known as “The Pommel Horse Guy,” was one of the biggest shooting stars of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Although Nedoroscik only competes on one apparatus, his expertise on the pommel horse helped the national men’s gymnastics team win its first medal in 16 years. Nedoroscik, the only American gymnast to qualify for an individual event, won another bronze medal in the pommel horse final.

Fans were excited to see the 25-year-old perform on the Gold Over America Tour, which hits 30 cities starting next month. Hosted by 11-time medalist Simone Biles, the tour also includes performances by Jordan Chiles, Sunisa “Suni” Lee and Hezly Rivera. The tour’s website also lists Brody Malone, Paul Juda and Frederick Richard as part of “The Team.”

However, Nedoroscik’s name was removed from the team’s main page, which immediately caused a stir. The Penn State graduate was a major draw and no immediate reason was given for it.

According to Nedoroscik’s Instagram posts, there is no dispute between him and the other gymnasts. On Monday, August 19, he posted several photos of the US team’s bronze medal win in Paris.

He wrote: “In case you didn’t catch enough of the team’s personality on camera, here are some of my favorites 😂. I missed these guys, it’s crazy considering it’s already been 3 weeks since the team finals 🤯.”

And although he’s not that close to Biles, he’s a huge fan of the most successful gymnast in US history. He recalled to Teen Vogue how she showed him one of his viral memes at a meeting in Paris.

“It’s just so surreal because I don’t think she even knew my name a month ago,” Nedoroscik said. “She’s just an icon, she’s the GOAT.”

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Fans are convinced that Stephen Nedoroscik canceled the tour to take part in “Dancing With the Stars”

After the Olympics, numerous gymnasts competed on “Dancing With the Stars,” including Biles, Lee, Laurie Hernandez, Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin and others. After the Paris Games, fans believe Nedoroscik will compete in the reality competition series’ 33rd season, which would clash with the gymnastics tour.

The new cast of “DWTS” has not yet been announced, but the premiere is scheduled for September 17. The calls for Nedoroscik to join the show are so loud that the topic was recently addressed in an interview with “Access Hollywood.”

“One of my biggest insecurities is dancing, right? But I’m always the type to push boundaries,” Nedoroscik replied. “Even if I’m just competing in the Olympics… it’s a very uncomfortable environment and I’ve gotten used to being uncomfortable, so that’s definitely out of the question.”

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Stephen Nedoroscik used his viral fame at the Olympics

From the way Nedoroscik meditated with his eyes closed to the way he took off his glasses like Clark Kent before competition, the pommel horse specialist became a viral sensation.

During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last week, he made fun of both memes.

He explained to Fallon the moment he closed his eyes: “After a really long day of waiting for about five hours to finally compete and represent (Team USA),” Stephen explained. “We get there early, warm up and then march out and compete. When it finally came to the horse, I had to calm down.”

“So I just tilt my head back, do my breathing exercises and visualize a lot – about 100 times.”

Speaking to TODAY last month, Nedoroscik called the Superman memes “awesome.” He wears glasses because he has strabismus and coloboma. “It’s not necessarily clear, but the thing about the pommel horse is, if I keep them on, they fly somewhere,” Nedoroscik said.

“When I get on the pommel horse, it’s all about feeling the apparatus. I don’t even really see it when I’m doing gymnastics. It’s all in my hands – I can feel everything.”

Emily Bicks covers the NFL for Heavy.com, focusing on the Bills, Seahawks and Chiefs. She has been writing for Heavy since 2019 and has interviewed some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Jerry Rice, Shaquille O’Neal and Stefon Diggs. More about Emily Bicks