Wait… Stephen Nedoroscik is not on the team? The guy who helped bring home the U.S. men’s first Olympic gymnastics medal since 2008, successfully breaking the dry spell? The pommel horse king who snagged bronze in Paris? Yep. You read that right. Despite all he’s accomplished, Nedoroscik didn’t make the cut for next month’s Pan American Championships, and fans were just as surprised as he probably was.

USA Gymnastics dropped the roster for the June event in Panama, and Stephen’s name was nowhere in sight. Instead, Taylor Burkhart, Brandon Dang, Josh Karnes, Taylor Christopulos, and Asher Hong will rep the U.S., with Jun Iwai stepping in as the alternate. For someone who’s not only an Olympic medalist but also a Rubik’s Cube-solving electrical engineer, TV host, and former Dancing with the Stars standout, and the people’s favorite, it felt like a big miss. But rather than throw shade or spiral, Stephen did something better. He showed up like he never left!

On May 7, he shared a video from his first day back in the gym since the Paris Olympics wrapped up, hopping right back on the pommel horse. “Wasn’t gonna post for the first day back because it was underwhelming and kinda buns,” he wrote, “BUT SECOND DAY BACK WAS INSANE 🔥.” Classic Stephen—no drama, just drive. After almost nine months away, whether he’s chasing medals or quietly working behind the scenes, he made one thing clear: he’s not going anywhere. Nine months? Well, yes!

What’s more, he manages to be just as humble as ever while juggling these numerous roles. A comment under his post makes that amply evident. “woah wait I thought you were a dancer…you do gymnastics too??!!“, commented an Instagram user, and to this, the pommel horse wizard had an admirable response that goes a mile to show just how grounded he is, “these are all just side quests I’m actually just and <an> electrical engineer. A subtle flex, or just remarkable humility? We will never know! Either way, love and respect for him only continue to grow!

Stephen Nedoroscik’s unlikely journey

After winning bronze in August at the Paris Olympics, Stephen Nedoroscik made an unexpected move—one he had never considered before in his life. Instead of immediately returning to the gym to focus on his gymnastics career, he took on a completely new challenge by stepping into the Dancing with the Stars ballroom. It was a bold decision, but Stephen didn’t just participate—he thrived. By November 2024, he was dazzling audiences, scoring a perfect 10 in the finale alongside his partner, Rylee Arnold. His time on the show not only displayed his versatility but also provided a massive platform to highlight men’s gymnastics in front of millions of viewers.

But Stephen’s journey didn’t end there. After Dancing with the Stars, he kept the momentum going by co-hosting the Dancing with the Stars: Live! tour in early 2025. For three months, he performed in 81 shows across the country, even making a special stop at his alma mater, Penn State. The tour wrapped up in April 2025, marking the end of his whirlwind entertainment journey and setting the stage for his highly anticipated return to gymnastics. Despite the time away, he’s been relentless in his drive to keep gymnastics in the spotlight.

Now, after almost nine months of recovery, Stephen’s ready to make his comeback. Fans had started to wonder whether he was still in the game after missing the Winter Cup and being left off the Pan Am Championships roster. But his recent return to the gym speaks volumes. With the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta this October on the horizon, all signs point to a major comeback, as Stephen prepares to reclaim his pommel horse reign on the world stage.