"Lot of guys retire early as they can't be self funded gymnasts” - Stephen Nedoroscik opens up on the harsh reality of men's gymnastics in USA

By Riddhi Acharya

Modified Nov 10, 2024 02:07 GMT

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Stephen Nedoroscik rose to fame at the Paris Olympics, going viral across the internet for his performances on the pommel horse that helped the USA win a team bronze medal. Since his exploits at the Games, the gymnast has been using his newfound platform to advocate for men's gymnastics as a sport, and he recently opened up about the hardships of being a self-funded athlete.

Nedoroscik and the rest of the USA's men's gymnastics team were phenomenal in Paris at the Bercy Arena this year. Joining the pommel horse specialist on the team were Asher Hong, Paul Juda, Brody Malone, and Fred Richard. Together, the five gymnasts stormed to a bronze, the country's first Olympic medal in the sport in sixteen years.

All five of the team's gymnasts have competed in the NCAA, and in a recent interview with Mythical Kitchen, Stephen Nedoroscik outlined the importance of the NCAA while explaining how the lack of funding affects senior athletes above the collegiate level.

“For men's gymnastics, the NCAA is a direct funnel. Every member of our team was an NCAA athlete and that's rare, right? Like that kind of just proves just how important it is to have those opportunities. And then like outside of the NCAA, a lot of guys retire early because they can't be self funded gymnasts. Like the sport itself is like a lifestyle.”

‘If I were to have to work as an electrical engineer and then go after my, you know, nine to five and train pommel horse, I'd probably be pretty bad. So we need these fundings. We need funding for not just gymnastics, but (for) these other sports that aren't bringing in revenue as well,” he went on to add.

Stephen Nedoroscik slams the NCAA for lack of funding in men's gymnastics

Stephen Nedoroscik slams the NCAA (Image Source: Getty)

With his newfound platform, Stephen Nedoroscik has openly criticized the NCAA multiple times for their lack of funding and commitment to men's gymnastics. In October this year, he slammed the Ohio State University for cutting athletic scholarships for men's gymnastics athletes.

Discussing the issue in his interview with the Mythical Kitchen, Nedoroscik said,

“Since the 1980s NCAA programs have been dropping, dropping, drop and drop. Even (in) recent days, like Ohio State just cut their scholarships. It's pretty insane that we have this beautiful sport where so many great people are part of it and just work their life for it. And no one's really respecting it the amount that they should.”

He went on to add that the sport was seeing growth since the Games, but he felt that the NCAA wasn't doing their part.

“So my biggest thing is I'd love to see this sport do a 180 and start growing in popularity in the United States. I got DMs and phone calls about these club programs that are getting more little kids to join than they've ever seen so that made me so happy, but it feels like the NCAA just isn't doing their part of keeping these programs funded and alive.”

Outside of helping Team USA to a podium finish, Stephen Nedoroscik’s campaign at the Paris Olympics also saw him win an individual bronze on the pommel horse. Since returning from the Games, the gymnast has been competing on the popular reality TV show, Dancing With The Stars.