Stephen Nedoroscik has been making headlines ever since he helped Team USA break a 16-year drought by winning a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics on 29 July.
His career-defining performance on the pommel horse earned him a score of 14.866. In addition, the routine went viral on social media and amassed millions of views and likes.
Highlights
- Stephen Nedoroscik has two eye conditions, strabismus and coloboma, which cause his eyes to misalign and create sensitivity to light.
- Nedoroscik disclosed on TikTok that he has strabismus, a condition where his eyes do not properly align with each other.
- In an interview, Stephen proudly stated, “I’m representing people that wear glasses well.
By joining “Dancing With The Stars,” the 26-year-old has showcased another side of his abilities.
With his, he made history as the first male Olympic gymnast to appear on the show.
Stephen’s unique appearance is due to his thick-framed glasses, which he wears until the very last moment before he pulls himself onto the pommel horse.
When the gymnast from Worcester, Massachusetts, takes his glasses off, it looks like watching Clark Kent transform into Superman, ready to take on the Olympic stage.
Unlike many athletes who switch to contact lenses, Stephen has been open about his eye conditions, which make wearing contacts uncomfortable.
Instead, he sticks with his glasses. Apart from his eye conditions, he also has asthma and always carries his inhaler.
Stephen Nedoroscik Revealed His Disability On TikTok
In 2022, the American gymnast shared a TikTok video explaining the symptoms he experienced. He showed how his eyes can cross and switch dominance.
Back then, he asked his fans to tag eye doctors because he wasn’t sure why his eyes behaved that way.
After winning the bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, new fans started flooding questions on the two-year-old video.
Stephen then revealed that he had confirmed he had strabismus, which is considered a disability.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, strabismus happens when there’s an issue with the eye muscles, leading to the eyes not aligning correctly and pointing in different directions.
Moreover, according to the National Eye Institute, Coloboma is a genetic condition in which tissues in part of the eye, like the iris or retina, are missing or not fully developed. This condition can affect one or both eyes.
Nedoroscik’s transformation from a quiet, bespectacled mechanical engineer to a strong athlete performing on the pommel horse is often compared to Clark Kent turning into Superman when he removes his glasses.
USA Gymnastics even called him “Super Steve.” “I think they are awesome,” Stephen said of the meme and comparison.
The athlete also said,
he is representing people who wear glasses well
In an interview with Today, Stephen said he doesn’t really see while performing his gymnastics.
“When I go up on the pommel horse, it’s all about feeling the equipment. I don’t even really see when I’m doing my gymnastics. It’s all in the hands – I can feel everything.”
Stephen Nedoroscik
Nedoroscik explained that when it comes to the pommel horse, if he keeps his glasses on, they’re going to fly off somewhere. This is why he prefers to take them off during performances.
In an Instagram post, USA Gymnastics revealed that the bronze medalist had “a really, really special moment” meeting a young fan who has the same eye condition as him and giving the fan some pins.
Stephen Nedoroscik’s Mother Opened Up About His Eye Complications
Stephen’s proud mother, Cheryl Nedoroscik, recently appeared on Spotify’s “Got It From My Mom” podcast.
Stephen Nedoroscik, the Clark Kent of pommel horse! 🫡🇺🇸 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/1HfYFSbJvH
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2024
She discussed Stephen’s eye complications, explaining how his underdeveloped pupil made it difficult for him to handle bright lights.
The pommel horse athlete doesn’t have a driver’s license. In fact, this allowed him to focus completely on gymnastics, with his parents driving him around.
Cheryl recalled that Stephen didn’t have a normal social life like the other children of his age. He spent most of his time practicing at the gym and only had weekends off.
Even so, he managed to complete his homework and other responsibilities. But his hard work paid off.
He has now become a leading figure in gymnastics and has made waves in the entertainment industry after participating in “Dancing with the Stars.”
Additional Information
- Stephen Nedoroscik’s net worth is estimated to be $1 million.
- Nedoroscik teamed up with professional dancer Rylee Arnold on “Dancing with the Stars.” He made it to the finale as one of the top five contestants and finished in fourth place.
- Stephen’s father, John Nedoroscik, used to work as a police officer for the Webster Police Department.
- His mother, Cheryl Nedoroscik, works as a client experience manager at a local savings bank in Holden.
- Stephen Nedoroscik has been dating his girlfriend, Tess McCracken, since 2016.
