In a twist few anticipated from an Olympic gold contender, Stephen Nedoroscik traded the rigid lines of the pommel horse for the spotlight of a dance floor. Just weeks after leading Team USA to its first gymnastics team medal in 16 years at the Paris Olympics, he signed on for Dancing With The Stars. The transition was stark: World-class gymnast by day, novice performer by night. And yet, behind this leap into unfamiliar territory stood a figure instrumental in his adaptation.
Rylee Arnold, his partner and guide through every unfamiliar step. Their partnership, which began on television, extended beyond the choreography.
Arnold, in only her second season, was tasked with turning an elite athlete into a convincing performer. She helped him navigate everything from dancing in heels to executing fast costume changes. Nedoroscik, fully aware of his limits, took nothing for granted.
“I would go home and study it,” he recalled, speaking exclusively with Inside Gymnastics. “She was an amazing coach… personality-wise very similar, very happy people, but when it comes to game time, we locked in.” The heart of Nedoroscik’s reflection, however, lies not in technical training or television appearances. But in the genuine camaraderie that formed behind the scenes.
“It was very much like a brother-sisterhood type of relationship,” he shared. “Seriously, just amazing. And I miss her.” Their connection developed not in staged moments but in the quieter, often overlooked reality of preparation and shared pressure. While many celebrity partnerships fade as the credits roll, this one, rooted in mutual effort and respect, endured. And his foray into entertainment did not end with the televised season.
In a move that surprised even him, Nedoroscik was asked to co-host the national Dancing With The Stars tour. Initially reluctant, Nedoroscik stated, “I’ve never danced. I’ve never spoken. I don’t do that.” However, he accepted the offer.
Over the course of 109 consecutive tour days, he performed, hosted, and lived the kind of structured repetition only an athlete could endure. The Olympian remarked, “You wake up, you warm up, you eat lunch, you perform, you eat again, and then you go to sleep on the bus.”
Now back in training, Nedoroscik reflects not only on the challenges overcome but on the unexpected relationships formed. In stepping outside his discipline, he uncovered something rare. A partnership shaped not by competition, but by trust, effort, and a shared willingness to begin again as amateurs.
And to further double down on his bond with Rylee Arnold, the duo also had a double date!
Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold step out with their partners for a rare red-carpet night out
Among the less-publicized moments of the Dancing With The Stars season, an evening outside the rehearsal studio offered a rare glimpse into the personal lives of two of its most famed cast members.
Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik and professional dancer Rylee Arnold stepped into a more relaxed spotlight during a joint outing with their respective significant others. The group attended the premiere of the film adaptation of Wicked on Saturday, November 9, opting for a coordinated evening of red-carpet appearances and informal companionship.
Stephen Nedoroscik and Tess McCracken
Credits: Instagram/@tess.mccracken
Though both are known for their athletic precision and focus within the competitive format, this particular engagement allowed for a markedly different atmosphere.
Arnold arrived in a structured, pale pink Alexander McQueen gown. Her expression was notably softened in the presence of Walker Lyons, a collegiate football player with whom she appears increasingly comfortable in public settings. Nedoroscik, more reserved in disposition, was accompanied by Tess McCracken. The four appeared together in a series of photographs, their dynamic suggesting familiarity not only through shared fame but through a developing off-camera rapport.
Arnold later documented the evening on her social media platforms, offering a behind-the-scenes perspective through casual footage and captioned moments. The tone of her posts, though enthusiastic, seemed grounded in an evident sense of ease and personal connection.
For a pair immersed in the highly choreographed demands of televised competition, the event presented something far less orchestrated. A social pause that felt both deliberate and well-timed, affording viewers a nuanced image of the dancers’ lives beyond the studio.
The post Stephen Nedoroscik Makes Feelings Clear About Rylee Arnold After DWTS Tour appeared first on EssentiallySports.