"It also means 'hey' to everyone that I love": USA Gymnastics hero Stephen Nedoroscik reveals reason behind his ear-tugging at Paris Olympics

By Agnijeeta Majumder

Modified Jul 30, 2024 16:59 GMT

Stephen Nedoroscik, the pommel horse specialist who stunned in the Team finals and earned the coveted bronze for the US at the 2024 Paris Olympics, reminisced about his grandfather and an ear tug tradition. Nedoroscik shared that his grandfather passed the previous year but he continued to keep the tradition alive on his TV appearance, which turned to a 'hey' for everyone he loves.

His 2023 performances amassed pommel horse titles from the Xfinity US Championships and Hydration Core Classic, In 2024, his gold-finish at the 2024 Us Olympic Trials booked a spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he was only scheduled to compete in the pommel horse.

His stunning manoeuvre combining circles and twists ending in a near-perfect landing not only anchored the US men's gymnastics team to a bronze finish but also made him an overnight sensation. The bespectacled gymnast made an appearance in an interview on Today, where he recalled a ear tug tradition he always performed for his grandfather when on TV.

Who he loving called, 'Dziadek' (grandfather in Polish), passed away at 94 but Stephen Nedrooscik keeps the tradition alive in honor of him and greet with a 'hey' to people he loves.

"This right here is for my dad's father, my Dziadek, that means grandfather in Polish. He passed away last year, unfortunately. He had a very long life, lived to be 94. He was a World War II vet. My idol, his name is Stephen John Nedoroscik, just like me, named after him. Back when I was at Penn State, that was the thing that I did whenever I was on TV, to say, Hey, Jadu, so I've kept the tradition up, and now it also means 'hey' to everyone that I love," he said. (via Today)

The 25-year-old Florida resident recognized his aptitude in pommel horse in high school, having competed in all apparatuses in his younger days. At the 2019 Winter Cup Challenge, Stephen Nedoroscik won his first elite-level title in pommel horse.

Stephen Nedoroscik - "I'm representing people that wear glasses"

Nedoroscik was often spotted dozing with his glasses on before hitting the pommel horse routine as the last participant of the night on July 29, 2024. He became a funny meme template and was compared to Clark Kent (Superman) in a picture posted by the NBC Olympics and Paralympics' X handle.

When Today Show hosts Hoda Kotb and Guthrie asked about him to talk about the ongoing buzz, he said:

"I think they're awesome. I'm representing people that wear glasses well."

He further shared the story of how his spectacles pose a problem during his pommel horse routine.

"It's not necessarily clear, but the thing about pommel horse is if I keep them on, they're gonna fly somewhere. When I go up on the pommel horse, it's all about feeling the equipment. I don't even really see when I'm doing my gymnastics," he said.

Stephen Nedoroscik will hit the pommel horse routine next in the individual apparatus finals on August 3 at the 2024 Paris Olympics.