Viral 'pommel horse guy' Stephen Nedoroscik joins 'Dancing With the Stars' after Olympic victory

First comes an Olympic medal, and then comes the Mirrorball Trophy – at least that’s what Stephen Nedoroscik can hope for.

The viral “pommel horse guy” of the 2024 Olympics is the first celebrity announced as a cast member for the 33rd season of “Dancing With the Stars,” which premieres Sept. 17 on ABC and Disney+.

Nedoroscik announced the news Thursday on ABC's “Good Morning America,” where co-host Robin Roberts also said he would be the first male gymnast in the competition show's history to compete.

RELATED STORY | US pony specialist Stephen Nedoroscik wins bronze in the individual

“I want to do some gymnastics, maybe a backflip or a handstand,” Nedoroscik told the morning show co-hosts. “I want to have fun doing it.”

The 25-year-old won two bronze medals at the Paris Games: one as an individual for his pommel horse routine – making him the second American in four decades to win a medal in the discipline – and the other as part of the U.S. men's gymnastics team, which took home its first Olympic medal in 16 years.

Nedoroscik is not only a sports star, but also an internet star. Various memes have featured the gymnast looking almost as if he was sleeping before his pommel horse routine, or the fact that by wearing his glasses until the start he resembled Clark Kent, the fictional character who transforms from a “normal” person with glasses into Superman.

Nedoroscik mentioned some of these memes on “Good Morning America,” saying that the sleeping strategy was a way for him to stay calm before his big moment, and that he would likely use that strategy on the dance floor as well. And as for the glasses, they will definitely still be part of his mystique.

RELATED STORY | US gymnastics team wins bronze at the Olympic Games in Paris

“Maybe I enjoy it. I'm afraid they'll fly away, that's the problem,” Nedoroscik told “Good Morning America.” “Maybe we could make a gadget that keeps them on? Maybe a new pair of glasses, to go with the theme?”

Although he is the first male gymnast to compete on Dancing With the Stars, he is neither the first Olympian nor the first gymnast to do so. In past seasons, many others have either performed well or even won.

American gymnast and six-time Olympic medalist Suni Lee finished fifth in Season 30, and five-time Olympic medalist Mary Lou Retton finished fifth in Season 28. Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, was expected to win the Mirrorball Trophy in Season 24 but finished fourth. But gymnast Laurie Hernandez, who competed in Season 23 shortly after the 2016 Rio Olympics, won the Mirrorball Trophy.

ABC said the rest of the Season 33 cast will be announced at a later date. Co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough will return, as will judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.