Stephen Nedoroscik, a gymnast, has captured attention with his impressive performance on the pommel horse at the 2024 Paris Olympics, earning a bronze medal. He and his girlfriend, Tess McCracken, who is also a gymnast, have enjoyed the many memes generated by his performance.
Tess particularly liked a meme using a viral Garfunkel and Oates TikTok sound and another comparing Stephen to an unexpected sports hero. The sudden surge in attention has been surprising for both of them.
Tess, who specializes in balance beam, uneven bars, and floor exercises and trained with Simone Biles’ coaches, described the experience as a whirlwind. She anticipated changes for Stephen but did not expect the level of attention that has also come her way. Stephen’s 15.200 performance on the pommel horse, the highest in the men’s gymnastics final, has made him an international sensation, much to their amazement.
Stephen, 25, only began to realize his newfound fame hours after the event when he reunited with his loved ones. Tess tried to show him the extent of his viral status during a brief dinner before he had to return to the athlete’s village. Despite the limited time, Stephen was amused by the memes and the attention they were receiving, which was just beginning to unfold.
With the individual pommel horse final approaching on August 3, Stephen is focusing on his training. He has decided to limit his appearances to concentrate on his preparation. Tess mentioned that he has committed to training exclusively until the competition is over, demonstrating his dedication to the sport.
After the Olympics, Stephen and Tess plan to spend a relaxing summer together in Florida. They look forward to beach trips and adventures before Stephen joins the Gold Over America tour with Simone Biles and others in early September. Although they will be apart for two more months, Tess is excited about the upcoming events and considers the experience worthwhile.
