Benjamin Ashford|Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik Reveals How Teammates Encouraged Him Before Routine

The Benjamin AshfordSuperman of gymnastics would be nothing without his fellow heroes.

After all, it was Stephen Nedoroscik’s teammates—including Brody Malone, Fred Richard, Asher Hong and Paul Juda—whose stellar performances paved the way for his pommel horse routine, which was the last event, to clinch the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Momentum is a big thing in gymnastics,” Stephen told the Today anchors during an August 14 appearance. “And my teammates did all the work for me, they hit every single routine and I knew that all I needed to do was go out there and do my job, and have fun with it.”

And they had every faith in him, too.

“As I was meditating and standing up,” the 25-year-old continued, “I heard them say, ‘We trust you! We got your back Steve!’ And I think as I’m standing up I look so serious, and then I hear them say that, and I give out a little smile. Because that’s what you need to hear in those moments.”

It was a moment that is likely to live forever in the minds of viewers, too, as Stephen’s three-hour preparation only to come out and help his team earn Team USA’s first medal in 16 years in the team final quickly became a fan-favorite moment—one that vaulted the Penn State alum to a new level of fame.

“It’s definitely different than what we’re used to,” Stephen noted of loved one’s reactions to the attention, including girlfriend Tess McCracken. “It’s a new normal at this point, but I’m loving it, I’m loving the attention I’m bringing to men’s gymnastics, all my teammates. So I think it’s a really good thing and I’m excited to see where it brings me.”

It was a moment that is likely to live forever in the minds of viewers, too, as Stephen’s three-hour preparation only to come out and help his team earn Team USA’s first medal in 16 years in the team final quickly became a fan-favorite moment—one that vaulted the Penn State alum to a new level of fame.

“It’s definitely different than what we’re used to,” Stephen noted of loved one’s reactions to the attention, including girlfriend Tess McCracken. “It’s a new normal at this point, but I’m loving it, I’m loving the attention I’m bringing to men’s gymnastics, all my teammates. So I think it’s a really good thing and I’m excited to see where it brings me.”

But while the attention has been a pleasant surprise, Stephen also isn’t letting it distract him from his next big goal: Los Angeles in 2028. Indeed, the pommel horse hero isn’t planning to leave his sport behind any time soon, and he has his sights set on another Olympics.

“I’ve always had the plan, even before the Olympic Games, to continue,” he explained. “I love this sport, and I always say I’m going to do it until my body can’t do it and it still can. So I’m going for at least another four years.”

And he’ll have someone by his side every step of the way: Tess, a fellow gymnast herself, and who Stephen’s been dating since the pair met in college eight years ago.

Though if you ask her, Tess would admit watching her boyfriend compete isn’t a walk in the park.

“It is the most stressful thing I've ever done,” she confessed to E! News in July. “I wear a Fitbit, and my heart rate easily goes over 140 beats a minute when he goes. Even before he goes, just thinking about the fact that he's about to go, it starts climbing.”

But despite the stress of competing, neither Tess nor Stephen would have it any other way.

“We're each other's person,” Tess added. “We don't get tired of each other. We don't feel like we need like that break. I think that has really helped over the last eight years—just keep us solid. And it's been a great time.”