After Olympic Medalist Went Viral As ‘Pommel Horse Hero,’ I Need Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Reaction To The Announcers’ Hamilton Comparison

After Olympic Medalist Went Viral As 'Pommel Horse Hero,' I Need Lin-Manuel Miranda's Reaction To The Announcers' Hamilton Comparison

As a gymnastics enthusiast and someone who has followed the sport for years, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the 2024 Olympics and the electrifying performances we’ve seen so far. Among the many standout moments, Stephen Nedoroscik’s pommel horse heroics for Team USA have left a lasting impression on me.


2024 Olympics are currently taking place in Paris, France, and once again, gymnastics competitions are generating a buzz. Despite Simone Biles often being the focus (and rightfully so, receiving accolades), an American athlete from the men’s team is starting to make headlines following a viral moment. Known now as the “pommel horse hero,” Stephen Nedoroscik played a crucial role in helping the team win the bronze medal, which was the first medal for U.S. men in gymnastics in sixteen years.

Although I’m not an expert on gymnastics, I was intrigued by the Law & Order Thursday promotion that aired during NBC’s Olympics commercial breaks. Watching the pommel horse performance gave me a thrill, and I enjoyed it when the commentators made a Hamilton reference after the men won medals. I would love to hear a reaction from Lin-Manuel Miranda!

Why Stephen Nedoroscik Went Viral

During each Olympics cycle, there are athletes who become widely popular for reasons beyond just their athletic abilities. For instance, Canadian ice dancers Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue gained attention from Leslie Jones in 2018, while the drug test scandal surrounding Kamila Valieva caused a stir in 2022. The specific reasons for viewer engagement remain unpredictable.

2024’s men’s gymnastics finals have sparked conversations on social media post their conclusion, with the main topic shifting away from the dazzling opening ceremony towards Stephen Nedoroscik, a 25-year-old team member who specializes in pommel horse and wears glasses.

1. Due to the event taking place early in the day across the U.S., many individuals had already witnessed or watched Nedoroscik’s breathtaking pommel horse routine before NBC’s broadcast on July 29. This event sparked conversations everywhere on X (previously known as Twitter), with people talking about it even before, during, and after its airing on NBC. I, for one, can’t get enough of the excitement surrounding Team USA’s pommel horse star. Here are some examples from social media:

  • @jamiehan: “me liking every tweet about Steve the pommel horse hero and his glasses”
  • @eiffeltyler: “I stay on this godforsaken app because every now and then I’m gifted with a phenomenon like pommel horse man. I didn’t know who he was two hours ago and now he is a national hero. I’m a patriot but only for pommel horse man.”
  • @MegWritesBooks: “Obsessed with this guy on the US men’s gymnastics team who’s only job is pommel horse, so he just sits there until he’s activated like a sleeper agent, whips off his glasses like Clark Kent and does a pommel horse routine that helps deliver the team its first medal in 16 years.”
  • @chubbs260: “Absolutely sick that America brought Stephen Nedoroscik, some nerd from Massachusetts, to Paris who’s sole purpose in life is to ball out on the pommel horse. And in the biggest moment of his life. He pommeled the FUCK out of that horse. Long live pommel horse guy”
  • @sportswithjohn: “People who aren’t nerds don’t understand how long we’ve been waiting for an electrical engineer from Pennsylvania POMMEL THE HELL OUT OF A HORSE.”
  • @KevinMcCaff: 2 days before Olympics: wait, the guys do gymnastics too? I kind of forgot. Day Olympics begins: I am more nervous about this guy’s pommel horse routine than I was before my wedding. I will die for glasses man.

The event unfolded dramatically, as if straight out of a movie. As the final performer on pommel horse for the team competition, Stephen Nedoroscik drew everyone’s attention. He removed his glasses and prepared for his sole Olympic appearance. And what do you know, he aced it! Here’s a link if you missed it: [Link]

1. During Olympic gymnastics competitions, it often appears as though the laws of gravity are suspended, and this was evident with the pommel horse and Nedoroscik in Paris this year. However, when it comes to the U.S. men’s team securing a medal, their performance drew a comparison to the hit musical “Hamilton.”

The Commentators’ Hamilton Comparison

1. It didn’t take long for it to become evident that Team USA was going to win the bronze medal, as soon as Stephen Nedoroscik successfully landed from the pommel horse. This prompted an immediate outburst of joy among his teammates, reminiscent of Clark Kent reclaiming his glasses. Once the victory was confirmed, ending a long wait for U.S. men’s gymnastics, the commentators heaped praise upon all the athletes who participated. John Roethlisberger, a former Olympic gymnast, added his own accolades to the chorus.

1. I’ve participated in the Olympics on three separate occasions, and let me tell you, it’s no walk in the park. Winning an Olympic medal is tough, but today those athletes truly embodied champions. They were flawless, determined, and eager – just like Lin-Manuel Miranda says, young, scrappy, and hungry! And boy, did they deliver. What a show they put on!

It’s likely that Lin-Manuel Miranda didn’t think about gymnastics while composing “My Shot” for “Hamilton,” but it’s intriguing to imagine his response to this comparison. Let’s reach out to him and see if he has any thoughts on the matter. In the meantime, we don’t need to wait for Stephen Nedoroscik’s reaction since he has already shared his perspective on X.

USA BABY 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 IS THIS REAL LIFEJuly 29, 2024

The U.S. men’s gymnastics team had an incredible underdog journey that earned them the bronze medal at this year’s Paris Olympics. Notably, Team Japan took home the gold, and Team China claimed the silver. Stephen Nedoroscik is a standout athlete whose performance during the 2024 Olympics went viral, making him the first gymnast to gain significant online recognition.

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2024-07-30 15:07