Probably all of us are aware that the 2024 Summer Olympics, or, officially, the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, are currently happening. Various countries have sent their athletes to compete in the important worldwide event. In fact, there were jokes going around on TikTok of people realizing how many countries they didn’t know existed that are competing in the Olympics.
Just as many people are competing for their countries, there are even more people who tune in to watch them compete. Nowadays, with the internet, it is easier than ever for the watchers to have discussions about even the smallest details related to the occasion.
One of the most major discussions so far revolved around the opening ceremony. During the spectacular ceremony, athletes showcased their countries’ uniforms, historic Paris landmarks were celebrated, and Celine Dion even performed for the first time after being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome.
Yet, some elements of it generated controversy from certain groups. For instance, some interpreted the scene of drag queens at a bacchanal as a parody of the Last Supper and deemed it offensive. When in reality, the director revealed that the scene was portraying a pagan celebration featuring Dionysus, the Greek god of fertility, wine, and revelry.
Fortunately, there were more wholesome discussions about the Olympics online. One of them is our topic today – “Nerdy Pommel Horse Guy.”
His real name is Stephen Nedoroscik. He’s an American artistic gymnast whose specialization is the pommel horse. On Monday night, he delivered a clutch performance and helped the USA’s team secure a bronze medal.
But a bronze medalist wasn’t the only thing he became after this performance. He also became an internet sensation.
Stephen’s nonchalant attitude was a big part of why he suddenly became such a beloved personality online. His composure before competing charmed people watching, and the shots of him relaxing soon became a common meme template.
Then, he took off his glasses and performed immaculate movements on the pommel horse. The act of removing his glasses got him the nickname of “Clark Kent.” It’s a reference to a character removing his glasses disguise and revealing he’s Superman. Quite similar to what happened with Stephen, isn’t it? Well, has anyone seen him and Superman in the same room?
Besides, his performance also gained him another even more popular nickname – “Nerdy Pommel Horse Guy.” His girlfriend also jumped on this trend by dubbing herself “Ms. Pommel Horse” in her account’s bio.
Well, what we can say is that Stephen seems like a wholesome guy who deserved both his medal and internet fame. Maybe the latter was an unintended consequence, but it’s quite a fun one as long as it won’t be taken too far.
What other Olympic performances did you enjoy? Share with us in the comments! And don’t forget to give some love to the memes and tweets about “Nerdy Pommel Horse Guy!”
