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Who Is Stephen Nedoroscik, And Why Are People Calling Him The 'Pommel Horse Specialist'? Memes About The Olympic Medalist Explained
A "pommel horse specialist" has been winning hearts online after his team won the United State's first men's gymnastics medal since 2008. Stephen Nedoroscik went viral nearly overnight after fans watched him wait on the sidelines, oftentimes with his eyes closed and his glasses on, until it was time for his routine.
Unlike other members of the Olympic gymnastics team that typically compete in various categories, Nedoroscik was called in for one job and one job only — he was there to pommel.
Here's what everyone on the internet thought about the seemingly nerdy "Pommel Horse Guy" and why Stephen Neodoroscik has become the subject of numerous memes in recent days.
Who Is Stephen Nedoroscik, And Why Are People Calling Him The 'Pommel Horse Guy'?
Stephen Nedoroscik is a Penn State student part of the United States men's gymnastics team, alongside Brody Malone, Frederick Richard, Asher Hong and Paul Juda. In 2024, Nedoroscik was recruited into the team's lineup with the single-minded goal that he would absolutely crush it on the pommel horse.
And crush it he did. After waiting several hours for his teammates to inch the team closer and closer to a medal, Nedoroscik took charge and pushed his teammates toward the first medal won by the U.S. men's gymnastics team since the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Stephen Nedoroscik had to score big on pommel horse for Team USA in the last rotation… AND HE DID. 🤯📺: NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/hkhiHpovyh
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 29, 2024
What Did People Online Think About The 'Pommel Horse Specialist'?
Affectionately called the "Pommel Horse Specialist," Nedoroscik began to win hearts even before he got on the horse. Leading up to the competition, Twitter users were commenting on his quiet and reserved attitude even as he patiently waited for his turn in the limelight. Many people especially noted his seemingly "nerdy" presentation, with John Green posting about Nedoroscik's Rubik's cube achievements as further confirmation of his "nerd credentials."
As for after his team's win, it seemed like everyone wanted a piece of "The Specialist." The Rocket League subreddit was awash with fans calling Nedoroscik "one of us" after they learned that he was a big fan of the game and millennial women dusted off last year's Barbie and Ken memes to joke about how Nedoroscik's job is "Horse."
Why Does Stephen Nedoroscik Wear Glasses?
On July 30th, the U.S. men's gymnastics team appeared on the Today show where Nedoroscik talked about how much he enjoyed the meme attention his performance received. The athlete could be seen wearing sunglasses on the show, a choice he chalked down to his sensitive vision.
Nedoroscik continued, saying that he takes off his glasses before performing because they would just "fly off" if he didn't and that he can't see much of the audience while on the horse, instead, relying on the feel of the pommel instead of his sight to do his routine.
For the full history of the Pommel Horse Guy, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
