SARASOTA, Fla. — The spectacle-wearing, Rubik’s Cube-solving pommel horse sensation Stephen Nedoroscik gained newfound stardom at the Paris Olympics — and it's followed him all the way home to Sarasota.
Nedoroscik arrived Tuesday night at Sarasota-Bradenton National Airport to a crowd of cheering fans. With two hard-earned Olympic bronze medals in his bag, he first greeted his girlfriend — aka "Ms. Pommel Horse" Tess McCracken — before high-fiving locals holding balloons, homemade signs and even cutouts of his face.
Sporting his Team USA shirt, Nedoroscik stayed to take photos with young fans.
Originally from Worcester, Massachusetts, Nedoroscik trains with his fellow U.S. gymnastics teammate Brody Malone not far from the airport at EVO Gymnastics.
Joining Nedoroscik on the flight from Paris was Sam Mikulak, a three-time Olympian himself who coaches at EVO.
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The 25-year-old U.S. gymnast finished third in the pommel horse finals just days after helping the U.S. men’s team earn bronze — its first Olympic medal in 16 years. From the pommel horse to the podium, he’s captured the hearts of Olympics viewers everywhere.
Photos and videos of Nedoroscik removing his glasses and centering himself before hopping on the pommel horse for a focused routine have gone viral, with memes likening him to Clark Kent.
“The memes are hilarious and I’m loving them all,” he told the Associated Press.
Even with all he's accomplished, with and without his glasses, Nedoroscik says he's "got eyes for something shinier" in the future.
In a post on X expressing gratitude for his Olympic experience, Nedoroscik seemingly confirmed he hopes to return to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles to go for the gold.