A Team USA gymnast dubbed the “Clark Kent of the pommel horse” and “pommel horse guy” is vying for a place as the internet’s favourite Olympian.
Stephen Nedoroscik qualified for the Olympic team solely on the strength of his pommel horse routine and helped the men’s gymnastics team secure their first medal in 16 years.
But before the 25-year-old got on the pommel, he spent nearly three hours sitting on the sidelines – where he captured the hearts of viewers.
After his routine – for which he whipped off his glasses – he was quickly labelled “Mr Pommel Horse” on social media.
His girlfriend Tess McCracken told Sky News’ US partner NBC News she has been loving the memes.
As well as comparing him to Clark Kent, superman’s bespectacled alter-ego, people have joked his job is “pommel horse” – a nod to the Barbie movie, in which Ken’s job is described as “beach” – and called him the team’s “babygirl” (a term that can variously mean cute, brooding or an antihero).
“Blowing up on the internet has been such an unexpected side effect of this whole adventure,” Ms McCracken told NBC News.
Nedoroscik told NBC’s Today Show he thought the Clark Kent comments were “an awesome comparison”.
“I will definitely take that. In a way, it is kind of like that. You know, I’m a goofy guy with the glasses on, but as soon as I take them off, I’m locked in. I’m ready to go.”
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He said he had to remove his glasses for the routine otherwise they would go flying off on the pommel.
“I don’t even really see when I’m doing my gymnastics,” he said. “It’s all in the hands. I can feel everything.”
Nedoroscik will compete again on Saturday in the individual event, the men’s pommel horse final.
