Stephen Nedoroscik is at the Paris Olympics for one reason — to ace the pommel horse routine. And that’s exactly what he did on Monday, propelling the U.S. men’s gymnastics team to its first medal in 16 years .
The bespectacled gymnast became an overnight viral hero after he nailed his part in the team event, securing a breakthrough bronze medal for Team USA.
A self-described “nerdy pommel horse specialist,” the Penn State alum was brought on to the team exclusively for his skills in that apparatus. Competing only in the one discipline, however, meant he sat on the sidelines for nearly three hours before his time to shine.
As he waited, he shut his eyes and appeared to take a nap, as delighted viewers watched on the NBC broadcast. (The reporters over at NBC suspected he was meditating, but the people of the internet much preferred the nap narrative.)
A Rubik’s Cube enthusiast, Nedoroscik also posted on Instagram before the competition that he’d finished one in 9.321 seconds, which he said was a “good omen.”
When it was finally time to hit the equipment, nap time was well and truly over. He took off his glasses and scored a 14.866, dismounting to a roaring crowd and jubilant teammates, who hoisted him into the air, jumping up and down with joy.
In the men’s team final, three gymnasts from each country are required to perform in six events: floor, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar.
It’s considered a risk to include a specialist who can compete in only one apparatus. Generally, elite gymnasts are able to perform in multiple, or all, events.
“People were worried he was going to hurt the team,” said Sam Mikulak, a former Olympian who helps coach Nedoroscik, according to The Washington Post . “And he was the one to [clinch] it in the end. It’s like a Cinderella story, fairy-tale ending.”
“USA BABY,” Nedoroscik posted on social media afterward. “IS THIS REAL LIFE.”
The Worcester, Massachusetts, native will be be going home with a medal and thousands of new fans and followers.
“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,” one fan wrote on social media.
“Stephen Nedoroscik, the Clark Kent of pommel horse!” the NBC Olympics account posted .
See those reactions and others below.
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