On the heels of winning two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics and becoming a viral sensation, USA men’s gymnastics athlete Stephen Nedoroscik will next compete for a Mirrorball Trophy on Dancing With the Stars.
The 25-year-old gymnast is the first contestant named to join the 33rd season of the long-running ABC reality competition series.
The casting news was exclusively announced on Good Morning America Thursday.
“I want to bring some of that gymnastics, maybe a backflip or handstand,” Stephen said. “I want to have fun with it.” The new season of the celebrity dance competition premieres September 17 on ABC and Disney+.
The bespectacled Olympian has been likened to “Clark Kent” for wearing thick-rimmed glasses, which he removes before his routine.
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It remains to be seen if he’ll do the same on the dance floor.
“I might have fun with it,” he said. “I’m scared they’ll fly off is the thing. But maybe we can do a gadget, keep them on. Maybe a new pair of glasses, match the theme, right?”
He may use some of his calming practices in the dance competition.
Nedoroscik is also recognized by fans as “Pommel Horse Guy” — for meditating before the pommel horse competitions. That winning ritual most likely will be used for Dancing With the Stars.
“As that moment is catching up and you’re getting closer to your competition time, your heart rate is just going crazy, so I’m just trying to stay calm,” he said of his ritual. “I’m really just focusing on my breathing exercises, visualization and then it’s go time. It’s kind of what I do just to calm myself down so I will probably will be bringing that to the dance floor.”
His skills helped the US men's gymnastics team win a bronze medal.
With his two bronze medals in Paris earlier this month, the Worcester, Massachusetts native helped Team USA’s men’s team earn its first Olympic medals since 2008.
-by Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News (TNS)
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