Last year, Stephen Nedoroscik lit up Dancing with the Stars S33 alongside Rylee Arnold, making history as the first-ever male gymnast to participate in the show. His electrifying performances turned him into an absolute fan favorite, but despite an incredible run, the duo narrowly missed the Mirrorball trophy, finishing 4th. Now, a year later, and fresh off major surgery, rumors are swirling that the Pommel Horse Guy might make a stunning comeback in S34!

After missing the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta due to hip surgery, he admitted, “I’m pretty disappointed that after my comeback, I’m gonna have to get a surgery and do this comeback all over again.” Now, having undergone the procedure, he’s setting his sights on a return to competing in 2026 on the road to LA 2028. But first, he’ll make a stop on Dancing with the Stars S34, after being invited by none other than Ilona Maher.

The Pommel Horse Guy shared a screenshot of a conversation with rugby union star and TV personality Ilona Maher on Instagram, who urged him to tag along. “Can you come This week to DWTS?” she wrote, sliding into his DMs.

Stephen Nedoroscik replied promptly, “My doctor cleared me to but I haven’t gotten a flight yet ( I can be easily convinced).”

“Do it,” she wrote back.

The gymnast seemed sold on the last-minute idea because he uploaded a screenshot of the texts and noted, “@ilonamaher was very convincing so now im headed to LA.” And with his medical procedure now complete, Stephen Nedoroscik eagerly confirms his return to the ballroom for the new season. While the gymnast may not end up competing for obvious reasons, he could still make a stage appearance alongside his teammates.

Meanwhile, with Jordan Chiles dazzling audiences alongside her partner Ezra Sosa, a Nedoroscik appearance could spark an unforgettable reunion! Adding to the excitement, the upcoming Dancing With the Stars episode on November 11th is likely to feature him, coinciding with the show’s 20th anniversary celebration, making it a special night. As he recovers from his surgery and returns to socializing, Nedoroscik appears to have planned his future quite well.

Stephen Nedoroscik set his sights on a landmark 2028 event amid “still getting better”

Before stepping back onto the mat at the Xfinity US Championships, the Olympian spoke about the storybook finish of his 2024 season and the slow kickoff to 2025. “I’ve always told myself, ‘I want to be done with the sport when my body is done with the sport,’ and I’m still getting better,” he noted, adding that quitting now and missing the chance to see his full potential would be a disrespect to himself and the sport. He didn’t hit the mark in the Championships, yet the crowd still cheered for the pommel horse competitor.

Talking about his experience after the first day, Nedoroscik said, “Being able to hear people cheer and root me on … this is what you do this for.” He shared how special it was to perform a horse routine: “Seeing these (kids) look up to me, doing a horse routine for them, and hearing them cheer.” He gladly posed for photos and signed autographs for fans. Following his disappointment at missing the World Team, he also spoke about his aspirations for LA 2028.

“I’m going to continue going. L.A. [2028 Olympics] would be amazing, so I want to shoot for that,” said Stephen Nedoroscik. With his sight firmly set on Los Angeles, the gymnast is gradually returning to training. But the question lingers: will he be able to make a complete recovery?