Who knew Stephen Nedoroscik was so good at chess? Majorly and only known as THAT pommel horse guy who had “one job in Paris”, Nedoroscik meditating on the sidelines for three hours was both meme material and a source of immense respect. Ever since then, the low-key, bespectacled, Rubik’s-Cube solving electrical engineer has broken many walls. Sometimes he could be seen waltzing on Dancing with the Stars, while other times, the gymnast would take his brilliance to pull off a checkmate.

In recent months, Nedoroscik has been venturing into new territory. On May 2, Chess.com announced that he had reached the semifinals of the POG Championships 6—a surprising but impressive turn for someone best known for spinning on a pommel horse, not outmaneuvering opponents on a chessboard. Before that, he wowed audiences in April at the iconic Dolby Theatre during a dance show, once again proving he’s not afraid to step into the spotlight in new ways.

Then there’s his own long-standing personal goal: a 10-second handstand. With his hand still healing earlier this year, it seemed like a stretch. But in April, Stephen shattered expectations—literally standing tall for a jaw-dropping 15 seconds. The Olympic bronze medalist proudly shared the moment on Instagram, and his joy was contagious. “Such a cool full circle moment as we enter the “bonus round” and woah has time flown,” he captioned the clip, celebrating a quiet triumph of patience, persistence, and passion. Yet, amid this busy schedule, there’s still one or two places fans have expected to see him. Unfortunately, better luck next time…

Despite his individual brilliance and Olympic pedigree, the 26-year-old is absent from the newly announced Team USA lineup for the Pan American Artistic Gymnastics Championships, slated to be held from June 12-15 in Panama City. The official roster—shared on Reddit on May 3—features Taylor Burkhart, Brandon Dang, Josh Karnes, Taylor Christopulos, and Asher Hong, with Jun Iwai listed as the traveling alternate. Of this group, only Asher Hong was part of the Paris Olympic team. The rest? Fresh faces, full of promise. And with Taylor Christopulos being the oldest at just 23, this lineup screams youth movement.

Notably, Nedoroscik was also absent from the 2024 lineup, deciding to concentrate on the Paris Olympics. The last time he had turned up for the Pan American Championships was back in 2023 alongside Donnell Whittenburg, Shane Wiskus, Curran Phillips and Cameron Bock. The Penn State alum had helped the team clinch a team gold, while individually qualifying for the pommel horse final and finishing fifth.

As for this year, exactly why Nedoroscik will be absent is currently unknown. Could this be a strategic litmus test for the next generation of U.S. men’s gymnastics talent? Very likely. But Stephen Nedoroscik’s absence might not just be about making space for younger athletes—it might also reflect a personal pivot like we mentioned earlier.

And once on the stage of the Pan Ams, he displayed it with finesse. 

Stephen Nedoroscik reminisces about the 2023 Pan American Championships 

Last October, Stephen Nedoroscik took a moment to relive a high-stakes triumph from the year before, one that proved just how clutch The Pommel Horse Guy can be when it matters most. It was the men’s team final at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. Team USA, with Nedoroscik anchoring the effort, faced a fierce challenge from Brazil. The South American squad had the early lead, and the pressure was on. The Americans needed near-flawless routines to flip the script, and they delivered.

Stephen, as always, brought the heat on the pommel horse. Donnell Whittenburg lit things up on the floor, and with Cameron Bock matching that energy, the team clawed back into contention. Then came a pivotal moment: a monster 42.665 score on parallel bars. That was the breakthrough. Team USA surged ahead and sealed the gold.

Last October, on the first anniversary of that victory, Nedoroscik marked the moment on Instagram: “Crazy Pan Am Games was already a year ago.” He re-shared a celebratory post, showing the squad—fists raised, pride in their faces. It was a throwback to a day when he had to perform under immense pressure… and did exactly that. But not everything went Stephen’s way in Santiago.

Despite qualifying for the individual pommel horse final, he finished fifth, just shy of the podium. It stung, especially after battling through setbacks just to make it there. Still, the loss wasn’t wasted. It became a lesson, a motivator. One that fueled his journey toward Olympic redemption in Paris, where he’d later shine on the biggest stage.