‘Pommel Horse Guy’ took a nap, won a medal, and became an Olympics gymnastics legend

The Olympics are all about unlikely heroes. Names that wouldn’t make you blink twice, but overnight become legends. Stephen Nedoroscik did just that for USA men’s gymnastics on Monday when his pommel horse brilliance ensured the United States won its first men’s medal since 2008 with a bronze, and cemented him in the national consciousness simply as “Pommel Horse Guy.”

Pommel horse specialist Stephen Nedoroscik CRUSHES the final routine that clinched Team USA’s first Olympic men’s gymnastics team medal since 2008. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/R303bZ0eQU

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

Pommel Horse is a very specific skill to have, even in the world of gymnastics. It’s a apparatus that requires ludicrous core and upper body strength, as well as grace and balance. Traditionally smaller athletes excel at the discipline, and it’s been a struggle in the past for the United States.

Enter Nedoroscik, who is a “Pommel Horse specialist.” This means he does Pommel Horse, and only Pommel Horse. His role on the team was to sit on the bench all day, cheer on his teammates, and simply wait for his event to come up. So what did he do? Well, he took a little nap — because why not?

Then when his name was called Nedoroscik removed his glasses like Clark Kent, and showed the world he was Superman — recording a 14.866 to cement USA’s bronze medal. He also became a meme in the process.

Stephen Nedoroscik, everyone. pic.twitter.com/zCT0ytAwTO

— Caitlin (@BrightCuPenny) July 29, 2024

Absolute legend.