After stunning the world with a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Stephen Nedoroscik seemed like he couldn’t be stopped. But just as fans were gearing up for more from this gymnastics superstar, he made a surprising move: he swapped the pommel horse for dancing shoes! Yes, you read that right. Nedoroscik, once again, defied expectations by joining Dancing with the Stars, leaving the gym behind for a while. For the past eight months, the spotlight has been on him, just not in the gym.

It all started in September 2024 when he stepped into the DWTS ballroom. By November, he was dazzling audiences and scoring a perfect 10 in the finale with his partner, Rylee Arnold. But despite all the glitz and glam, the tug of gymnastics never fully let go. Fans were left on the edge of their seats, wondering when the gymnast would return to the sport that made him a household name.

And it wasn’t just the performances—after DWTS ended, Nedoroscik kept his foot in the spotlight by co-hosting the Dancing with the Stars: Live! The 2025 tour which kicked off in January 2025. For the next three months, Stephen Nedoroscik wowed crowds across the country. He performed in 81 shows during the 86-day tour, even making a special stop at his alma mater, Penn State, in late January.

The tour wrapped up on April 5, 2025, and just like that, it was time for him to make his much-anticipated return to the gym. Since the Paris Olympics wrapped up, nine months have passed. And staying away from the gym for so long is no small thing, but now, he’s ready to dive back in. So, what’s next for Nedoroscik? Sure, he missed some major championships, but all signs are pointing to a major comeback.

Just recently, Stephen shared a story on Instagram—a shot of the pommel horse with background voice saying “oh baby,” while he captioned it, “we are so back.” That quick clip said it all. After months away from the gym and skipping a big championship, it looks like Nedoroscik is ready to dive back in, but it comes with a test.

Stephen Nedoroscik’s big future goals

Stephen Nedoroscik’s name was surprisingly missing from the U.S. men’s roster for the 2025 Pan American Artistic Gymnastics Championships, announced May 3. Instead, the team is stacked with young blood—Taylor Burkhart, Brandon Dang, Josh Karnes, Taylor Christopulos, and Asher Hong, with Jun Iwai as alternate. Only Hong returns from the Paris Olympic squad, and at just 23, Christopulos is the oldest in the group.

But let’s not pretend he’s been off the radar. After helping the U.S. win its first Olympic men’s team medal since 2008—and grabbing an individual bronze on pommel horse—Stephen took an unexpected but epic detour: Dancing with the Stars. He didn’t just survive the ballroom; he thrived in it, using the spotlight to put men’s gymnastics front and center.

One performance was even dedicated to the sport, with Stephen Nedoroscik saying, “I can only hope my efforts can help grow this amazing sport.” Between the Olympic medals and mirror ball moments, he’s done more for gymnastics awareness than most athletes barely manage in a lifetime. But you might be surprised to know that he has already planned his future moves after the Pan Ams roster exclusion and Winter Cup absence.

Many fans questioned whether Nedoroscik still participated in sports after both the Winter Cup and Pan Ams were excluded. The gymnastics world should not overlook him because evidence suggests Nedoroscik will return strong during the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta this October.

A prestigious international competition emerges as the ideal showcase to witness legends appear because Nedoroscik shows he is prepared to demonstrate his pommel horse reign to global viewers after a nine-month absence. So, what’s next for Stephen Nedoroscik? After missing the Winter Cup and getting left off the Pan Ams roster, fans were starting to wonder if he was still in the game.

But don’t count him out just yet—because all signs point to a major comeback at the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta this October. Having spent nearly nine months in recovery, Nedoroscik appears prepared to demonstrate once again his dominant title on the pommel horse at a high-stakes worldwide stage.