US OLYMPIAN Stephen Nedoroscik is off to film Dancing with The Stars, ahead of the premiere next month.
Stephen, 25, flashed a big smile as he announced he and girlfriend Tess McCracken, 26, were moving to Los Angeles, California, for the show on his Instagram Stories.
“Off we go,” he captioned the photo of him and Tess, on their way to the airport.
Retired gymnast Tess will be cheering for her boyfriend, as he puts his dancing skills to the test during the ballroom dance competition adapted from the British show Strictly Come Dancing.
She informed fans that her and Stephen’s cat Kyushu was also joining them on their Californian adventure on her Instagram Stories.
Two-time Olympic medalist Stephen was revealed as the first contestant for DWTS’ upcoming 33rd season, during a recent episode of Good Morning America.
The announcement followed weeks of speculation that this year’s lineup would include an Olympic athlete, with rumors also circulating about gymnast Jordan Chiles, and rugby star Ilona Maher.
In the end, “pommel horse guy” Stephen was unmasked as the first celebrity contestant for the new season, ahead of the premiere next month.
Reacting to his latest DWTS update, Stephen’s fans wished him luck for the competition on a Reddit forum dedicated to the show.
“They’re bringing the cat too!!” one user commented on the post. “So happy for them!”
Another person replied, “I think they’re anticipating a long stay.”
A third comment read, ‘Glad Tess gets to go with him, and Kyushu too – hopefully it’s a longer term stay for the three of them.
DWTS’ first contestant revealed to be Stephen Nedoroscik as US Olympic gymnast tells GMA hosts he ‘can’t wait’
“(I apologize to this sub in advance because I’m about to be an obnoxious Stephen stan this season, oops),” the Redditor continued.
Stephen discussed his strategy for winning DWTS during a conversation with Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, and Gio Benitez on GMA last Thursday, August 22.
“I’m hoping to bring some of that gymnastics,” the Massachusetts native told host Robin. “Maybe a backflip or handstand. I want to have fun with it.”
Stephen earned national recognition at the 2024 Paris Olympics after the pommel horse specialist won the U.S. men’s gymnastics team two bronze medals.
Rumored DWTS Season 33 Contestants
Dancing With the Stars has only named one contestant on Season 33 – Olympic Bronze Medalist Stephen Nedoroscik. But, there are rumors swirling of who will be on the show, as the cast announcement on September 4 looms closer. Here is the rumored cast.
His performance ultimately helped secure Team U.S.A.’s first Olympic medal in 16 years after Stephen’s score catapulted the contingent to third place.
The gymnast from Worcester, Massachusetts, also became a viral meme for his meditation ritual before his pommel horse routines at the Olympics.
“So I’m just trying to stay calm,” Stephen told GMA co-host George, addressing his newfound internet fame. “I’m really just focusing on my breathing exercises, visualization and then it’s go time.
“It’s kind of what I do just to calm myself down,” he continued. “So I will probably be bringing that to the dancefloor.”
WHO IS TESS MCCRACKEN?
Stephen and Tess met at Penn State university on their first day.
In an interview with Today, Tess said, “He was a gymnast for the Penn State men’s team, and I was on the Penn State women’s gymnastics team, so we were in athlete orientation together.”
She added that her and Stephen ended up being paired together during the orientation because of the first letters of their surnames.
“We recognized each other from the competition world but didn’t speak much until we were paired up for a personality questionnaire and later saw each other on the first day of classes.
“About a week later, we were together,” she added.
She currently works as a project manager for a biopharmaceutical contract research organization based in Pennsylvania, Today reported.
The full cast list for season 33 of DWTS will be revealed on September 4, ahead of the premiere on September 17.
