‘Best moment of my life’: Penn State’s Stephen Nedoroscik speaks on historic Olympic performance

On Monday, Penn State gymnastics took center stage in Paris at the 2024 Summer Olympics after former Nittany Lion Stephen Nedoroscik delivered a show-stopping pommel horse performance to propel the United States men’s team to its first medal in 16 years.

In fifth place in the men’s team final, the pommel horse specialist’s nearly flawless routine secured Team USA the Bronze Medal. It was the first time that the U.S. men’s gymnastics team had reached the podium at the Olympics since Beijing in 2008.

STEPHEN. NEDOROSCIK.

The routine that clinched @USAGym's first Olympic medal in the men's team final since 2008 🥉

📺: @NBCOlympics & @peacock#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/NiDVBvxx12

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 29, 2024

Overnight, Stephen Nedoroscik became an internet sensation. Once a controversial pick for the five-member U.S. men’s gymnastics team because of his relative weakness in the other five events of the competition, the glasses-wearing specialist is now being labeled everything from “the Clark Kent of pommel horse” to an “American icon.”

American icon. pic.twitter.com/C5ity3ELTA

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) July 29, 2024

Nedoroscik calls performance in 2024 Summer Olympics “the best moment of my life”

Stephen Nedoroscik already has a highly accomplished pommel horse career. As a member of the Penn State gymnastics program, Nedoroscik won the individual National Championship as a true freshman in 2017. He followed it up with another national title in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2019.

At the senior level, Nedoroscik won Gold at the 2021 World Championships. His four U.S. pommel horse titles are tied for the most in American history.

However, the 25-year-old says Monday’s performance was almost a surreal experience.

“Going up to pommel horse, last guy up in the whole competition, I had a good feeling that our team was in a great spot,” Nedoroscik told NBC’s Mike Tirico as he and his teammates rewatched the performance. “I just knew I had to go up there and do my job.

“Right here, I was super worried in my routine, and I was like, let’s just get it done, let’s go for it, right here. If I put this dismount up, Team USA gets a medal. I think you can see it right away when I land. Dude, goosebumps right now, man. That’s the best moment of my life.”

GOOSEBUMPS!

Stephen Nedoroscik knew he had one job to do to help the men’s USA gymnastics team take home the bronze. 🥉 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/VG7mbQIpaX

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2024

Online, Nedoroscik had a much simpler way to summarize his thoughts.

USA BABY 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 IS THIS REAL LIFE

— Stephen Nedoroscik (@GymnastSteve) July 29, 2024

“I knew he had it as soon as I saw him take the podium and do his arm swings and take his warmup,” Penn State men’s gymnastics coach Randy Jepson said. “It’s just all about the first circle he does, and as soon as he got that, I knew his tempo was right, and he was off to the races. I couldn’t be happier for Penn State’s second Bronze Medalist at the Olympics.”

After missing first place by a tenth of a point, Stephen Nedoroscik will compete in the individual event finals on Saturday.

Penn State sends school record to Olympics

Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Nedoroscik’s performance was just one of the multitude of Nittany Lions that will be active in Paris over the coming weeks during the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Penn State sent a school record 30 current or former student or club athletes to the Paris Games. The previous record was 23, set at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Athletes are representing 13 countries, two current assistant coaches are competing for two different countries, and two former student-athletes are alternates on Team USA. In addition, seven current coaches are serving as personal coaches.

Except for the boycotted 1980 Olympics in Moscow, Penn State has sent athletes to every Summer Games since 1948 (19 consecutive Olympics).

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