“When you have a special kind of athlete, it’s very easy to put them on a pedestal,” said Paul Smith, Olympic champion Regan Smith’s father, reflecting on his son’s specialized talent. After securing an Olympic team bronze (the U.S.’s first in 16 years) and an individual pommel horse bronze (15.300) at Paris 2024, Stephen Nedoroscik took a hiatus. He notably achieved fourth place on Dancing with the Stars Season 33, earning a perfect score for his freestyle routine. Now, precisely one year after his Olympic success, the gymnastics world is once again getting ready to witness Clark Kent! Yes, Stephen Nedoroscik is back and how!

At last year’s Olympic Games in Paris, the American men’s team seemed poised to unravel after early mistakes from Brody Malone. While broader attention fixated on all-around leaders and big-name dropouts, it was Nedoroscik, quiet and methodical, who delivered a pivotal performance when the U.S. needed it most. His execution on the pommel horse during the team final was nearly immaculate. An anchor routine that steadied the entire squad. The result: a long-awaited team bronze, the country’s first in 16 years. Days later, he added an individual bronze, his 15,300-point finish leaving no doubt about his place among the world’s best.

It is precisely one year later that Nedoroscik has announced his return to competition, confirming via Instagram that he will be on the floor at the upcoming Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. “Finally got all my EVO gear. Can’t believe I compete in 2 weeks,” he wrote, slipping the news in almost casually. But for those who follow men’s gymnastics closely, the update carried significant weight. His re-entry into the arena, after a full year of deliberate absence, introduces a sharp layer of anticipation. With others from the Paris roster also confirmed, the stage is set for a tightly contested meet, and Nedoroscik’s reappearance shifts the dynamics immediately.

What makes this return particularly intriguing is not only the timing but the manner in which it has occurred. There has been no dramatic announcement, no buildup through training footage or fanfare. While others have grappled with form and injuries in the post-Olympic year, Nedoroscik appears to have trained with intent, even hinting at upgrades to his signature event. If his performances in Paris proved anything, it is that when the stakes rise, he does not flinch. The comeback may be understated, but it arrives with a sharpened edge. And while he was away from the gymnastics mat, Nedoroscik was having all sorts of fun and frolic while being extremely productive.

How Stephen Nedoroscik rocked the DWTS stage after his Olympic victory

Stephen Nedoroscik’s post-Olympic chapter unfolded not in a gymnasium, but on a ballroom floor, a stage where he secured an unexpected fourth-place finish on the 33rd season of Dancing with the Stars. Less than three months removed from his double bronze medal performance in Paris, the pommel horse virtuoso navigated the unfamiliar terrain of competitive dance with precision, persistence, and unexpected grace. His partnership with Rylee Arnold, herself in just her second season as a professional, grew steadily in acclaim, culminating in a finale performance that earned both critical acclaim and a perfect score.

Their concluding night began with a brisk, technically demanding quick-step redemption routine, selected by judge Bruno Tonioli, who likened their tempo and polish to “a Rolex.” Carrie Ann Inaba, invoking the late Len Goodman’s legacy, observed, “This is the best I’ve ever seen you.” Nedoroscik’s evolution from gymnast to dancer became especially pronounced in their freestyle performance, which fused gymnastics elements. From flips, to circles, to handstands, Nedoroscik did it all with precision. Tonioli described the result as “athletic and artistic at the same time… extremely lyrical, very emotional.” The pair’s effort was rewarded with 30 out of 30 points, a testament to the cohesion they had achieved over the course of the competition.

Though the final tally, shaped by previous scores and public voting, placed them fourth, the impact of Nedoroscik’s participation extended well beyond the standings. “I am not good at dance, and not a natural dancer,” he remarked candidly, “but she has made me do what she has got me to do.” In the eyes of the judges and audience, that transformation, measured in movement, not medals, was its own kind of triumph.