Stephen Nedoroscik might have traded his pommel horse for a dance floor, but he’s absolutely flipping the script on Dancing With The Stars. His partner, Rylee Arnold, has been giving it her all, too, pushing through an injury without missing a beat in their practice sessions. Together, they’re aiming for the coveted Len Goodman Mirror Ball Trophy. But let’s be real—the road isn’t exactly a glide across the ballroom floor. Yet, Nedoroscik is all in, ready to pay the price for a shot at the top. And he’s already dreaming about what comes next.

Fresh off his historic role in the men’s gymnastics team at the Paris Olympics, Stephen had a few post-Olympic options. One? Joining Simone Biles’s Gold Over America Tour—and he almost went for it. Another? The lucrative and glitzy DWTS tour. Or he could’ve just kicked back and enjoyed some well-earned holiday downtime. But, nope! The allure of the silvery ballroom lights and sequined outfits won out, and he’s now living his best DWTS life.

During a chat with Joe Vulpis, Nedoroscik backed his decision to join Dancing With The Stars with zero regrets. “I think would be like incredibly fun like how cool would it be to just go around the country and do like dance routines that you learn throughout the entire fall,” he clarified. Vulpis subsequently asked him about the typical formation of the gymnastics team. The Penn State gymnast felt happy to answer his question. But in the middle of this, he proved how the DWTS tour touched his soul.

In the last three weeks, Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold have pulled back the curtain and shared some fun behind-the-scenes tidbits. Rylee, the Utah native, has even picked up a thing or two from Stephen’s strict gymnastics schedule while he’s been laser-focused on leveling up his dance skills. Together, they’ve been working overtime to bring their best to the stage, and it’s been paying off—fans and judges alike have been loving their performances! But, as they’ve learned the hard way, everything comes at a price. These last few weeks have taken a toll, and both Stephen and Rylee are feeling the heat.

In her preparation, Arnold faced a niggle in her ankle. Stephen experienced a similar painful blow. In one of his conversations, he admitted to hurting his calves by trying different dance shoes and styles. But the 25-year-old gymnast has not complained about that. Instead, he is ready to pay this nominal price to learn new things. In his chat with Joe Vulpis, the Olympic medalist shrugged it off, making it clear he’s all about the bigger picture. And while his DWTS tour wish is firmly in place, Stephen’s got another surprise wish up his sleeve!

Stephen Nedoroscik set his eyes on a bigger prize 

As of now, Stephen Nedoroscik’s target is to leave the DWTS show with the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in his hand. But that does not mean that he would leave his gymnastics goal. In the same podcast with Joe Vulpis, he disclosed that once the glitter settles, his sights are set on something even bigger. 

After his ballroom adventure, Stephen plans to head back to his alma mater, Penn State, for a short gymnastics camp—a warm-up of sorts. But that’s just the start. From there, he’s locking in on the ultimate goal: the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. “From there, it’s just going to keep on rolling until we get to the next Olympic Games,” he said with confidence, not even pausing for breath. For Stephen, that’s the way he plans to enjoy life—by setting targets and chasing them down with full force. His determination is clear, and his fans are in for a thrilling ride as they watch him juggle dance shoes and gymnastics grips on the road to 2028!