‘Dancing with the Stars’ Announces Olympic Medalist Stephen Nedoroscik as Season 33’s First Celebrity Contestant
[ad_1]
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Stephen-Nedoroscik-082124-5f0b36522c0046778e4778e02b20ede0.jpg)
Get ready to giddy up for season 33 of Dancing with the Stars!
On Thursday, Aug. 22, ABC announced that Olympic bronze medalist Stephen Nedoroscik would be the first celebrity contestant in the running for the mirrorball trophy on Good Morning America.
“I want to bring some of that gymnastics. Maybe a back flip or hand stand,” the gymnasts told the hosts. “I want to have fun with it.”
Nedoroscik, also fondly known on the internet as the “pommel horse guy,” helped propel Team USA to win bronze at the men’s gymnastics team final at the Paris Olympics — their first medal in 16 years. Despite his seemingly smaller role, his high score ultimately clenched the team’s bronze win on July 29.
The team included Paul Juda, Fred Richard, Brody Malone and Asher Hong. However, Nedoroscik was the only member to qualify for a individual final — pommel horse — and also scored himself an individual bronze medal in the event on Aug. 3.
Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty
“It was just the greatest moment of my life, I think,” the athlete, 25, told reporters, including PEOPLE, after nailing his routine in the team final. “[I’m] so happy to have been there.”
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
Kristy Sparow/Getty
In addition to being an Olympian, Nedoroscik quickly became an internet sensation thanks to his thick glasses, which social media users likened to Clark Kent. Though he was previously referred to as the “goggles guy” for the sports glasses he wore while he competed, Nedoroscik went sans glasses during his performance, explaining that he doesn’t need his eyes to see the pommel horse.
“I don’t think I actually use my eyes on pommel horse,” he told The Washington Post. “It’s all feeling. I see with my hands.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Nedoroscik is also an advocate for individuals with low vision. The athlete has strabismus (meaning he is cross-eyed) and coloboma, which happens when part of the eye tissue is missing. While in Paris, Nedoroscik went viral for a special moment he had with a young boy with the same diagnosis.
In an Instagram post shared by USA Gymnastics, the medalist had “a really, really special moment as @stephen_nedoroscik got to meet (and give pins to) a young fan with the same eye condition as him.”
Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro are returning to host season 33. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough are also returning as the judges.
Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars will premiere Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with the episode available stream the next day on Hulu.
[ad_2]
