Stephen Nedoroscik arrived in Paris as a hungry debutant representing Team USA. However, he’ll leave as the star of the show for the U.S. Men’s gymnastics team. Although the 25-year-old didn’t fulfill his dream of winning Olympic gold, he put the punctuation mark on the U.S. Men’s team’s return to form. On July 29th Nedoroscik’s pommel horse display earned the men their first team medal since Beijing 2008.

The Worcester native made his mark once again on Saturday, aiming to end a 16-year drought on an apparatus where U.S. gymnasts have historically struggled. As Team USA’s sole specialist, he rose to the occasion, securing his place in history just 45 seconds after his routine. Despite clinching both team and individual bronze medals, Nedoroscik remains unsatisfied with his achievements.

“Bronze team. Bronze horse. I am forever grateful to have had this opportunity. This Olympic experience has been everything and more. Thank you to everyone who has supported me. Bronze is a great achievement, but I got eyes for something shinier in my future #2028” Stephen Nedoroscik wrote on X, taking stock of his success and already looking ahead.

“I worked my whole life up to those 45 seconds,” wrote the former Penn State Nittany Lions member after winning team gold. Unlike the rest of his team members, the gymnast only competes on the pommel horse, and it showed on both occasions. “I want to be the guy on pommel horse when it comes down to the wire,” the gymnast told the press after winning the team bronze.

After winning two Olympic medals, the 2021 world champion is excited to return to training. As far as the Clark Kent of gymnastics horse is concerned, he needs to strive for perfection to earn gold on home soil during the L.A. 2028 Olympics. However, the 25-year-old is heading back home with something more than two Olympic medals.

How Stephen Nedoroscik became Superman

While Olympic medalists often become hometown heroes, Nedoroscik has become the real-life Clark Kent for the entire internet. As eager fans tuned in to watch a team of four first-time Olympians carry the weight of an entire nation’s dreams, they saw the bespectacled young man sitting in quiet contemplation. However, when his time came, the NCAA champ stood up, took off his glasses, and performed the near-superhuman feat of earning an Olympic medal in just 45 seconds.

And just like that, the internet dubbed Stephen Nedoroscik, the Clark Kent of gymnastics. After his routine on Monday, netizens flooded the internet with Superman memes and compared the gymnast with Superman actor Christopher Reeves. However, the 25-year-old will need to be nothing short of Superman if he wishes to earn gold at LA2028.

“We’re trending in the right direction… (but) Japan and China are still in another category,” said USA Gymnastics’ High Performance Director Brett McClure. Thankfully, Team USA’s Clark Kent and his fellow gymnasts have four years to prepare before attempting to save the day.

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