Stephen Nedoroscik’s keen focus on details and rituals extends beyond his pommel horse routine; it also manifests in his life outside the gym. The American gymnast’s penchant for obsession was on display once again when he solved a Rubik’s Cube in under 10 seconds on Saturday, just prior to the pommel horse final at the Paris Olympics. This accomplishment served as a promising sign, fueling his confidence for a medal-winning performance.
“After I solved it under 10 seconds before four team finals, solving it again under 10 seconds for this competition, I felt good about it,” said the 25-year-old athlete.
Earlier in the week, Nedoroscik played a pivotal role in securing a bronze medal for the U.S. men’s gymnastics team during the team finals, marking the program’s first Olympic medal in 16 years through an outstanding routine.
Performing at the Bercy Arena, Nedoroscik executed his routine with remarkable skill, smoothly transitioning from one side of the pommel horse to the other. Despite his excellent performance, he finished behind two-time world champion Rhys McClenaghan of Ireland and Nariman Kurbanov of Kazakhstan, with McClenaghan taking gold with a score of 15.533. Nedoroscik concluded his memorable Olympic journey with a solid score of 15.300.
While McClenaghan added more difficulty to his routine, Nedoroscik chose to maintain his original plan and diet, reiterating his preference for consistency in his preparations. “We just continued to do the same ritual over and over again. I had six pieces of green apple in the morning with a chocolate muffin. That was my breakfast. I just kept everything exactly the same,” he shared.
The Worcester, Massachusetts native, who previously won two NCAA championships at Penn State, has unexpectedly risen to social media fame, with numerous memes and images of him gaining traction online.
“The amount of people who are reaching out, following me has been unbelievable. It’s hilarious, and I find it funny that people are making memes of me. I had to turn off my notifications yesterday to focus on this competition,” he remarked.
Fans have drawn comparisons between the bespectacled Nedoroscik and Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent, praising his transformation into a hero on the pommel horse.
“If someone had asked me what would eventually gain traction, I would have probably said it was because of my eyewear or my quirky personality,” he noted. “I’m glad that people are enjoying my competition.”
Nedoroscik has had a long-standing love for the pommel horse despite its historical challenges for American men. He fondly recalls spending hours practicing on one his parents had installed in their backyard. In 2021, he made history by becoming the first U.S. gymnast to win a world championship gold medal on the pommel horse.
However, his routine and sense of stability have been slightly disrupted by the departure of some of his U.S. teammates from the athletes’ village after completing their events.
“It was definitely a little lonely in the village, but to pass the time, I solved the Rubik’s Cube a couple hundred times and got myself another sub-10. That’s all I needed for this competition,” he reflected.