When it comes to Stephen Nedoroscik, just let him cook.
After all, the member of the U.S. men’s Olympic gymnastics team stayed backstage for almost three hours during the medal round until he was brought out for a single event: the pommel horse.
It’s an unusual move for a gymnastics squad. While his teammates Brody Malone, Fred Richard, Asher Hong and Paul Juda competed in five of the six events—the horizontal high bar, the parallel bars, the vault, the still rings and the floor—Stephen, 25, was sequestered away before being brought out for the final event of the evening.
But however unusual, it’s a move that made sense given Stephen’s history. The Penn State alum is not only a two-time NCAA Champion, but he’s also placed first in two World Cup events and, in 2021, became the first American World Champion on the pommel horse.
And while Stephen performed in just one round of the required three pommel horse showings, it was a gamble Team USA was willing to take.