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Stephen Nedoroscik, the Olympic gymnast who graduated from Penn State, helped the US to win bronze with a stellar pommel horse performance. Then, he went viral.

Who is Stephen Nedoroscik?

Stephen Nedoroscik is an artistic gymnast who specializes in the pommel horse. He is the 2021 World Champion and a two-time NCAA National Champion, representing the Penn State Nittany Lions, in the event.

“Steve,” as the internet has lovingly nicknamed him, went viral after he represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He helped the men’s gymnastics team to win a bronze medal in the team event.

Why Did Steve Go Viral?

Nedoroscik’s pommel horse performance played a crucial part in the United States winning bronze. His skills clinched the medal at a crucial moment in the competition.

In a sport where most athletes typically compete in multiple events, he competes only on pommel horse. He is our pommel horse guy. It was to the point where the broadcast had a “Nedoroscik Pommel” countdown clock in the bottom left corner of the screen.

We had high hopes and he came in clutch. He helped Team USA win its first men’s gymnastics team medal in 16 years.

He is also a champion for those who wear glasses.

After being seen preparing for his routine by meditating whilst touting his iconic glasses, he took the internet by storm.

He’s quirky. He wears glasses. He doesn’t take them off until the moment he mounts on the pommel horse. He is like the Clark Kent of gymnastics.

It was only entirely natural that the internet would gain an almost immediate affinity for the “dorky” American hero. You haven’t seen better glasses-wearing-person representation than this!

So without further ado…

Here are some of our favorite internet reactions to Stephen Nedoroscik:

  • Clark Kent

    The dude is literally Clark Kent. His disguise is his glasses. Once they come off, he performs like Superman would. And his routine was, in fact, heroic, leading the team to a bronze medal.

  • A Man With A Specialty

    I mean, if you’re good at something, might as well be REALLY good at it. So good that it’s all you have to do in order to lead the team to victory! He came, he pommel-horsed, he conquered. What’s better than that?

  • A Moment For Glasses

    It was cinematic. The removal of the glasses. The flawless routine. Then almost immediately putting the glasses back on. It was downright iconic.

  • His Celebration

    What’s more Steve than raising your iconic glasses in celebration? At this point, he didn’t even know his glasses were taking the internet by storm. Meaning he just does that to celebrate. Which makes him all the more lovable to us.

  • He Plays Chess

    It just totally adds to his dorkiness, which is what made the internet fall in love with him in the first place. The more we learn about him, the more we love him. He is the perfect Clark Kent story. There’s nothing better!

  • Countless Memes

    The Ginger Swindler on X (formerly Twitter): "if i send you this it means im sleepy but will show up when the team needs me pic.twitter.com/RlkJ3qMoO4 / X"

    if i send you this it means im sleepy but will show up when the team needs me pic.twitter.com/RlkJ3qMoO4

    This is going to be a forever reaction photo used on the internet now. It conveys so many things. It could be applied to so many situations. Stephen Nedoroscik, the meme that you are. Congrats on your bronze medal, it’s well-deserved!

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