The Squeeze - Stephen Nedoroscik: Spray Tans and Superman

Episode Date: November 20, 2024

In this week’s episode, the Lautners sit down with gymnast and two-time Olympic medalist Stephen Nedoroscik! Stephen starts off by sharing how he discovered gymnastics as a child and when he realized his potential for a career specializing in the pommel horse. He opens up about maintaining a balance between the intense demands of training and his personal life, as well as the mindset that keeps him focused right before competition. Stephen also discusses living with his eye conditions and how they impact his daily life and gymnastics, as well as how he’s determined not to let them define him. Plus, he gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his time on Dancing with the Stars with partner Rylee Arnold, sharing how the experience defies his expectations, how the training compares to preparing for the Olympics, and what he’s learned from the experience!Be sure to follow Stephen on Instagram https://instagram.com/stephen_nedoroscik/!Catch Stephen on Dancing With The Stars every Tuesday night 8/7c ON ABC AND DISNEY+, and be sure to vote by texting STEPHEN to 21523 https://dwtsvote.abc.com/To email us your questions or share your story, you can reach out to [e-mail] sure to rate, review, and follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Plus, follow us on Instagram:The Squeeze:  https://instagram.com/thesqueeze/Tay Lautner: https://instagram.com/taylautner/Taylor Lautner: https://instagram.com/taylorlautner/& TikTok:  https://tiktok.com/@thesqueezepodcastTo learn more from The Lemons Foundation, follow  https://instagram.com/lemonsbytay/ and visit lemonsbytay.comEpisode Sponsors:Get 25% off + FREE shipping on Roots Focus at SilverStarNutrition.com using code SQUEEZE. Fuel your brain, sharpen your focus, and boost your energy with every sip. Don’t wait—head to SilverStarNutrition.com to elevate your everyday!Find gifts guaranteed to bring joy to every hard-to-shop for person this season at saks.comFor an exclusive offer, go to biooptimizers.com/squeeze and use promo code squeeze during checkout to save 10 percent.Put your water to work with Gatorade Hydration Booster. You can use code BOOST20 on Gatorade.com to try it yourself for 20% off.Bring your traditions to life with independent art and design this holiday season. Use code SQUEEZE for 20% off Minted holiday cards and gifts.Head to acorns.com/squeeze or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! *See disclaimer for more detailsProduced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Go to your rice-adviseur or SunnyCars. The following podcast is a dear media production. I want you to be honest with me. In that moment that we've all seen, you're staying warm, you're just dialed in, Clark Kent's about ready to come out and handle business. What is going through your brain any level of nerve?

No, no, no. I have so many nerves. I am locked in like that because I'm also an overthinker. What's going on in my head when it looks like I'm just sleeping, it's like a thousand thoughts a second. Like I'm thinking about like, oh my gosh, like the clock is ticking in 15 minutes. My fate will be determined. Because you know a metal is going to come down to your. performance. It's make or break.

Just being in that spot where I was the last guy, that's the team medal on me if I messed that up. But at the same time, I'm also telling myself, like, reassuring things, like, you deserve to be here. You've done everything in your power. Like, no one can tell me I didn't, because I did everything in my power to be here in this moment. Whatever happens is almost out of

my control. When life gives you lemons, what do you do with them? Over here at the squeeze, we talk about it. Welcome to the squeeze. That was a prompt. I mean, you always like, Make it this whole thing.

I'm like, let's just jump right in. Do I? I don't know. Okay. I'm just saying that. You're self-conscious every time we have someone. Welcome. Thank you.

We are so excited to have you here. We've been, we've literally been wanting to do this episode since we watched you in the Olympics. So we'll get into that later. Yeah. Yeah. Taylor was literally your number one fan. I appreciate that. I'll get into it.

Yeah, we'll get into it. But we start each episode off with this little jar, a game. called Citrus Got Real. If you want to pull a little question out of there. All right. Let's see what we got here. Let me go for this. This lemon right now. That's hard to grab. Oh. Just pull one of the papers. Yeah. There she is. All right. You got if your name, oh, there we go. If your name was one letter, what would you

choose in why? If your name was one letter. Yeah, that's a, it makes you really think about letters here. Wouldn't you just go with maybe the letter that your name starts with. That's kind of what I was leaning towards that's like most natural right? Yeah, I'd probably just go T. Or like are you want to be special and you want to do like X.

I think I'm going to go with S. I think that's a safe ball. Should we do one more? Let's do one more. Round two. This time I'm just grabbing a paper. And then here we go. If you were a board game, which one would you be in Y?

Our listeners write these questions. You have very unique questions, listeners. If you were a board game, which board game would you be? That's a good one. That's a really good one. Right? Yeah, that would definitely be it. Yeah.

Yeah, I'm trying to think what else. You'd be monologue. I'm having a hard time thinking of board games. I'm like, I'm thinking of like, sorry? Oh, but like, are you sorry for something? You can't say sorry. I know. I don't know if I want to be sorry all the time.

No, I feel like you would be, I feel like you would be monopoly because you like think things through and you're like. Okay. Good with business. Okay. Perfect. I'll be, I'll be park place. Or trouble. Trouble.

Trouble. Monopoly. Sorry. Connect for twister. It says twister is a board game. Oh, twister. Like the physical body game. Yeah.

That's a board game. Shoot some ladders. Oh, my God. shoots and ladders. Did you play shoots and ladders? It's like where you keep going in if you get, if you get a ladder, you go up, if you look at a slide, a shoot. You go down, right? I have like the vaguest memories of a child. Yeah. Clue. Clue is in there. Okay. I'm looking for some form of like an active game. What about past the pigs? Life. Scrabble. Pass the pigs. Have you played past the pigs? I haven't even heard of that game. Okay. It's like give a 30 second. It's very bizarre. There's these two

pigs. And there's two different sizes to this game. The original version, these pigs are like this small, like very small pigs. Yeah. But we also have a giant past the pigs where both of the pigs are like football size. Yeah, they're like plushy things. But you roll them on a table and based on the formation that they land, you get a certain amount of points. So they are the die in this game.

Yes. But they'll like, so if they just land like stand or the least amount. on a points is if they land on their sides. But if they land standing up or on their back, you get five points. That's hard. But if they land on their snout, that's called a snouter.

That's 10 points. Then you can get a double snouter. And then the highest scoring one is called a leaning jowler. And that is when it is on its snout, but also its ear. On one leg. It's like a one arm, handstand, pig style.

You can probably do that. Yeah. I could do the leading snagery. We don't need past the pigs. We're just to pass the Stephen. Pass the Stephen. Oh, that's good. Okay. Should we get into this? Yes. Now that we got past the pigs out of the way. Yeah, you have to, we have to show you this game. I need to see it. Yeah. It is, it's very addictive. Yeah. Like she said, we're very excited to have you here. Literally, I didn't miss a second of this Olympics. For two weeks, I was just planted on my couch and all day, every day. including everything of yours and the men's gymnastics. So as soon as you guys won bronze, I was like, dude, dream world. Dream world.

We get this guy on the schools. I remember hearing Taylor, like, scream, like, after you had finished your routine. Like, literally from, I was upstairs and he was like, oh, my gosh, baby, you just missed it. Oh, my gosh. She usually misses the big moments, but that was one of them. We went back and watched it. Yeah. We did.

Yeah. But I guess I guess I'm just curious now seeing the superhero that you are. Where did this all start? When did you start gymnastics? And was it love at first sight? Yeah, I mean, I started at the ripe age of four and a half. I was always my parents, monkey boy, I'd take like the side of walls and like shimmy up them. And I was just like chaotic of a kid.

So they were like, all right, we're going to shove them into something, maybe redirect this energy. Yeah. First day in there, I climbed a 15-foot rope at 4.5, which is, you know, really cool. The coach was like, get down from there. And I just let go. He's like, oh, no. Anyways, that's my first interaction with gymnastics. And literally, after that, like, preschool class, they were like, do you want to join the team and, like, do gymnastics? They invited me to do that. And I was like, yeah. And it was, like, love at first sight. Like, immediately, I was like, this is what I want to do. It's so cool. Wow. I can't imagine how. Were your parents like, oh, this is fun? Or were they like, they knew how fearless you were. And they were like, oh, shoot, like this. He's going to watch him a little bit. Yeah. My dad knew that I climbed that rope and all that. And when you got the phone called for me to be invited to like, they joined the team. He thought I was actually in trouble. And they were going to reach out and be like, you know, you're never allowed back here. Oh, my gosh. That's funny. It came with good news. At what point were you like, oh, I'm actually like really good at this. I could like go like do this for, you know, college like in maybe even the Olympics. Was there a point where you were like, oh, wait, there's something going on here? I remember one very defining point in my career. And it was when I was a junior in high school. And I wasn't really that good of a gymnast. But, you know, I was getting really good at the palm. And it's just this one day we had this pretty successful junior coach come by our gym just like for a day Just by chance really and he was watching me do the palm horse and he literally came up to me and was like

Dude like last year, you know my athlete he's standing right there. He's like this guy won palm horse I could see you Stephen winning palm horse in the junior in Nationals this year and it was like the first time that anyone had ever told me like you know You could be good at this. I was like whoa and sure enough like you know six Six months later, I won the junior title on Palm Horse. And that was like really the moment where I was like, okay, like this could lead into NCAA. This could lead into the Olympics gears down the line. So like that moment alone, just like hearing a successful coach say that to me, it was

like very defining. Yeah. Do you like zero in on Pommel Horse then? Or do you continue doing everything else? How does that work? Yeah. So back then, I was doing all of the events. and definitely just like shining the most on Palm Horse.

It wasn't until I actually made it to college that I decided to just like specialize on the one event. I was originally planning on doing like three events like rings, P-Bars, Palm Horse. But like I like walked into this gym and like every athlete there at the collegiate level, they're just phenomenal athletes. And I was like, dude, like I am like not even the best at Palm Horse in this gym. Like I need to make sure I'm at least that before I do other events. Okay. So in college, you, you strictly became like, I'm going to put everything towards Pommel. Exactly. Yeah, I put all my eggs in one basket and it was just like, let's see where this goes. Wow. So how does it work from, like, college to Olympics? Because I know, like, we have friends that, you know, didn't do their college sport and then just, like, strictly trained. How is there, like, was Olympics always, like, an officer?

Or were you like, I've just like focused on school. How does that like transition work? Yeah. So like, you know, you can be in NCAA and be an Olympian. Like two of my teammates from this year on the Olympic team are now back in school training and studying again. But it definitely is easier to be outside of the NCAA to go on that Olympic journey and really just focus on gymnastics. In general, like the way that it kind of works is like you get into NCAA, you let those four years. of training sort of marinate in you. And then after that, you become a much better athlete, especially being on a team for that many years. It is that relatability to being on a team on the world or Olympic level as well. So all those things do add up. And most of the guys, typically that are on those teams, are outside of the NCAA, but sometimes it happens inside. That's so cool. Here on The Squeeze, we are all about finding ways to support our mental health. And let's face it, staying focus can definitely be a challenge.

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joy to every hard to shop person this season at sacks.com. When you're like at that level of just like the highest level of being a professional athlete, is there any form of balance between like personal and personal life and work life or is it just that's just you got your blinders on and you're just training. I have my blinders on. Even like, I mean, it's just like, you know, year round almost when these competitions are coming up, like that month leading up to something big. Like, it is kind of just like I put these blinders up.

And I'm maybe not the best friend of the guys that live in Texas because I'm not reaching out as much. But like, you know, it's the type of guy that I am where it's just like, if I have a goal and I know it's obtainable and it's right around the corner, it's all I'm going to be focused on. And pretty much every second of the day is going to be in order to like make sure that moment, I did everything. I couldn't my power for it to turn out well. Yeah. I imagine. Understandable. Yeah. I mean, I feel like that's how you got to be if you want to be at that level.

Yeah. Most guys are, yeah. I imagine like your close friends, your family, like the people that you care about fully understand that. Absolutely. And they're like, no, you go do your thing and come back to us when you got some time. Exactly. It is kind of just like they're there to watch me. And then like, you know, after the competition's done is then that's when they get their son or friend back, you know? Yeah, exactly. I'm an overthinker, and I would say I'm not the best under pressure. Clearly you are. But I want you to be honest with me in that moment that we've all seen, where you're sitting there,

you're staying warm, you're just dialed in. Clark Kent's about ready to come out and handle. business, what is going through your brain? And is there, like, is there any level of nerves? Like, I have a feeling you're going to say no and you're just like dialed. Absolutely. No, no, no. I have so many nerves. I mean, I am locked in like that because I'm also an overthinker. And what's going on in my head when it looks like I'm just sleeping, it's like a thousand thoughts a second. Like, I'm thinking about like, oh my gosh, like the clock is ticking in 15 minutes, my fate will be determined. You know, like, I'll have finished this routine. I don't know

how it's going to go yet, but like, oh my gosh, it's right there. But at the same time, like, I'm also like telling myself, like, reassuring things like, dude, like you deserve to be here, but you've done everything in your power. Like, no one can tell me I didn't because I did everything my power to be here in this moment. Like, whatever happens is almost out of my control is what I tell myself, like, because like when you do everything, right, leading up to something, like, it's kind of is just like, you already put the work in. Now it's time to just like, see how it goes. So that's kind of like what I'm thinking about when I'm sitting there.

And at the same time, I'm like thinking about my teammates that are going up there competing. And there's even like one moment where I like crack a smile because I just know that the guy before me, Brody. Like I just know that he killed it. I heard everyone start screaming. And I like peaked open my eyes and like gave a little smile. But like, yeah, it really is just like that's what I'm doing. I'm just thinking way too much.

I'm trying to calm myself down. Because you know, right? you know that a medal is going to come down to your performance, right? Yeah. Like, it's make or break. Exactly. And just being in that spot where I was the last guy on my team to compete is just like, you know, it is an honor to be in that spot, but it also carries an absurd amount

of weight because, like, you know, theoretically there's a universe or possibility out there where like I let that pressure get to me, you know, I didn't lock in as well and I got shook. And like, you know, that's the team medal on, on me if I'm not. that up. So very scary circumstances. When you're, I always just like wonder this for professional athletes, like, especially gymnast because like so, like you just rely so much on yourself, like on your body to do these things. And like, let's say you fault. If you mess up, how do you like not, how do you not get stuck in that and be like, no, actually, I can do it and then go on and then do it correctly?

Yeah, I mean, like, so like, gymnastics itself is like the routines that we train, we're doing them for years, basically. And like it is this like refining process that is basically testing your body to see how impossible you can do things. You know, what level can you get to and how consistently can you do it? So like in a competition, like if you fall, like everyone knows like when you get back up, you're going to hit it. But like I think the hardest part for most athletes, including myself, is like if you fall out a big competition and now it's over. Like, you know, it's just like, Your meat's over, you messed up. How do you pick yourself back up after that? And one of the things I've always thought about, like, throughout my career is, like, when I get to big stages, it always takes me, like, a few tries to be able to do well. It's, like, NCAA, it took me three competitions to do well. When I finally made it to, like, that elite level and I started to do, like, USA championships. It took me three tries to be able to do well. So it is, like, this consistent thing. And even, like, international competition, it took me, like, a few tries to be able to do well. So, like, when, Whenever I'm in a new environment, I'm doing things that, like, I'm scared or uncomfortable with. I always have, like, this comforting thought that, like, all right, like, it might not work out this time. But, like, regardless of anything, like, time and experience is going to make this better over time. Doing that, sorry, I'm going off script right now because I'm just, I'm just curious. So, doing that routine, what is it nine times out of 10 you do that routine without slipping or falling? Like, what is the, like, margin of mistake with that for you?

Yeah, for me specifically, and the event that I do, it is one of those events where it's so easy to fall. Like, the Palm Horse is just, like, everyone's falling on it. I would say, like, when I'm feeling really good about my routines, I'm probably hitting them, you know, maybe 70% of the time, which doesn't seem like it's that much, you know? But, like, you know, crazy things happen in gymnastics and a 70% hit ratio is decent. you'd love it to be 100% all the time. But sometimes when you are hitting every single time, it kind of hurts you a little bit, oddly enough, because then you're like, okay, this is going to be the one where I eventually fall.

Right. Oh, yeah. Oh, my gosh, I didn't even think about that. Yeah, there's all sorts of mental gymnastics that goes along with gymnastics. I could literally never. I could never. Literally physically I couldn't, but mentally I couldn't. Looking back on your time at the Olympics,

obviously winning it, but it was just like, such an insane feeling that you probably can't put into words. Is there any other moment, like, throughout that that you just kind of took a second year, like, what the heck is going on? Or a standout moment getting to meet someone looking back at that. Yeah. I have this one memory that, like, really sticks out to me. It was, I think it was the night before preliminaries, like that first day of competition. And me and a teammate were just, like, at the Olympic Village, just like in our sort of apartment thing, just like standing on the... the porch looking outside at Harris.

We were just like, dude, how unreal is life? Like, look at this. Like, that's Eiffel Tower right there. This is unbelievable. And at the same time, like, we're looking down at all these Olympians walking around. And, you know, I had this funny thought of just like, man, like every single one of these people have gone through a life of, you know, similar to mine where it's just like, you know, victory failure, victory failure.

And you finally found yourself here at the Olympic Games. And it's the best moment of your life. And something about having that thought that all these thousands of people. were in, you know, feeling the same way I did. It made me feel kind of small and insignificant in a really good way. I was like, dude, like, this isn't the biggest thing ever. Like, you don't need to put this pressure on yourself. Like, all of these people are also feeling it. Like, just take the moment and enjoy it. And I did. And, like, I think having that sort of simple thought, you know, taking a step back from how big everything felt, it was a really important

moment for me. That's really cool. I feel like I cried so much watching the Olympics. I feel like this year I've been extra emotional, which makes sense. But it was just like, it's just so special. Like I can't even comprehend like the amount of time and energy and just everything that goes into being an athlete at that level and seeing it pay off for people. Like I was crying for countries I've never even heard of just seeing them people crying. It's just it's so heartwarming and it's so cool that the Olympics exists because we get to like. It just makes you feel like, well, cozy is the right word. But it's just like, it's so heartwarming.

It's a good feeling. Yeah. I love it. I love it so much. Wait, I have one last question. Did you ever think that you, I imagine, okay, I'll start with this, I imagine that you can't go outside. Like, you're one of the most famous people in the world right now, or in America at least. I can't imagine you being able to go outside right now.

Like, you're that guy. Like, did you ever imagine that? Absolutely not. Man, it was crazy. Like, after the Olympics, I didn't even know what was really going on, like social media-wise, because I got drug tested. I was doing this and that. And, like, I didn't have my phone for, like, three hours.

And it wasn't until I finally got to dinner with tests. And she was like, dude, have you looked at your phone? I'm like, I haven't taken it off airplane mode yet, you know? You know, she's like, you gotta look at it. And it's just blowing up so crazy. She was like, dude, you were trending on Twitter. And I was like, what is life? What is life?

And then it's just like, it is insane. Like, I'll go outside sometimes and people are just be like, hey, like, dude, I loved watching you at the Olympics. I mean, like, childish Gambino walked out to me like a few weeks ago. Oh my gosh. Are you the guy from the Olympics? And I was like, holy crap. Yeah? He's like, thanks for giving my album a shout.

I was like, this is just unbelievable. Unbelievable. Yeah. Oh my gosh. I love that. So cool. I can only imagine those three hours. Tess is like, dude, you're literally the takeaway. You are the internet's hero right now. I had no idea. Truly. Yeah. It was, yeah, you were everywhere. There was a lot of great things about this Olympics, but I'll put you right up there at the top. Thank you. I don't know about you, but when I hear of Gatorade, I instantly think, of athletes and that I don't necessarily fall into the category of someone that would need Gatorade or would need that level of hydration with them throughout the day. But I'm wrong. Hydration is for everyone. Hydration does not discriminate. It is for everyone,

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saving scare you anymore. Head to acorns.com slash squeeze or download the acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today. Paid non-client endorsement, compensation provides incentive to positively promote acorns. Investing involves risk. Acorns advisors, LLC, and SEC registered investment advisor, view important disclosures at acorns.com slash squeeze. Okay. I want to dive a little bit into your eye conditions because I, I just love how you talk about them, how you've gone about it in your life, in your career. And when I was doing research on them, are they common? Is that like a common thing? But, okay. No. Okay. I know. I was reading things and they were like, it's pretty common. I was like, I haven't heard of either of these. But can you, can you tell our listeners a little bit about them and how they affect you?

Yeah. So I have, you know, a few things wrong in my eyes. You know, generally I have. bad vision, just like normal people bad vision, not too bad. And then I have Strabisness, which is, you know, the typical like cross-eyed where one of your eyes actually goes a little bit inward, sort of that lazy eyeness. I had surgery in as little, but it still affects me to this day. And then I have coloboma, which is kind of when your iris, the colored part of your eye, doesn't form the full ring around your pupil, which means that like you have this hole in it. And in my case, it pretty much has made my pupil ginormous. And I'd barely, have any iris. So some things that go along with those eye conditions is with having the

cross-eyed strabismus. I have no debt perception, which is really tricky in any sport, really. I found it. I was kind of lucky to find gymnastics. It's a sport where debt perception doesn't really matter as much as it does in other sports. And then with Coloboma and how big my pupils are, I am incredibly sensitive to lights in general. And like any time I'm outside in the sun, squinty, and like sometimes I'm indoors at a competition, having those lights right on me really affects me as well. So, you know, those are kind of just like the small battles that I fight throughout every day. Yeah. Is this side effect to either of those like migraines? Yeah, especially like the light sensitivity. Like if I'm outside for like too long

or if I'm in like a really bright environment for too long, like I will get a migraine. And, you know, there's even funny pictures of me at the Olympics where I was getting. like a migraine from the lights. So, you know, one of the days when you were in the competition hall, I'm just wearing sunglasses and everyone thought I was just trying to look cool.

That's funny. It's funny. He knew he was too cool already. How old were you when you were diagnosed with them? Straight out the womb. The doctor looked to me and said, he's cross-eyed and got Colaboma. Wow.

Oh, wow. Yeah, so they're pretty, you know, easily detectable things right away, especially with, you know, looking at a baby and being like, oh, man, his pupil's. are big. Have you thought about having another surgery the same one you had as a kid or are you

just, you've learned how to. Yeah, no, I've always thought about like, you know, what surgeries are available for my conditions. For the cross-eyedness one, I think like just with like glasses and stuff, it's so unnoticeable. Like, and I don't really care at all. My eye looks a little crossed. But with the, the coloboma, you know, I'm always looking at like what options there are to

like sort of fill that iris. in so I'm not so sensitive to light. And there's some really cool options. Like my mom is about to go and have an operation done where they're going to tattoo her eye to act like an iris. So that's an option for me as well. Yeah, she has it in one eye. And then my sister has it in one eye.

I'm the one who's lucky enough to get it in both eyes. Oh, wow. So is that a genetically like passed down thing? Yeah. So we have the congenital coloboma. And yeah, some of my cousins have it. but somehow I just got really lucky and managed to get the worst of it than my family's ever seen.

Jeez. I'm curious, back to my obsession with your gymnastics, how does it affect, like, how you go about gymnastics, like training-wise, like, does it alter that in any way? Or how does that work? Yeah, I mean, especially when I was doing, like, the events. Like, it did affect how I trained, especially the events like Vault. I remember, like, I'd be competing and I'd have to have my teammates tell me when the judge rose his hand.

And on Vault, I'd always have this issue where I'd kick out early because I have no debt perception. I try to kick the board at a certain place, but my body's like, dude, you're going to miss it if you kick that late. So I was never good at Vault pretty much for that reason. And then, like, things like high bar and parallel bars were like I do have to reach and grab something. I was always more scared than other guys because I was a lot more prone to missing And, you know, I just think that it probably played a role Into me not being a success on those events

But at the same time, like, I was definitely kind of a scaredy cat too Yeah, I mean, I definitely would be But it doesn't affect pommel horse too much I mean, that's the thing is like I never can know how much it affects me on pommel horse because I've never really known anything else. I know that like the light sensitivity thing that I have from venue to venue that we compete at, sometimes they will have a spotlight right here in front of the horse right down on me,

and that can really affect me. I remember at Olympic trials going into Tokyo Olympics four years ago, that was a problem that I had to deal with. But, you know, that just kind of has been something that I've dealt with my whole life. It is something that I can manage and push through as well. Yeah. So I imagine Pommel is like mostly just feeling. Yeah. Yeah. I mostly rely on that sort of innate ability to feel around. It is kind of just like walking around on your hands. Yeah. Yeah. I just think it's so cool like how you've just been like, you know, I got lucky. These are the cards I was dealt for my family. And, you know, it is what it is. And I think it's like such an inspiration too. Like for us, whatever it is, whether, you know, it's a condition that you have, whether it's a condition that you have, whether it's.

it's your mental health, whether it's whatever card you've been dealt with in life to really just not let that define you and still to like go after your goals. Has there ever been a time where you were like frustrated by it or have you just always kind of been like, it is what it is? I mean, I've always been the it is what it is guy. But especially when I was a kid and we'd be playing like catch or something, you know, just whatever. And I'd like mess up. My friends would joke on me. I'd always tell them like, I don't have that perception guys. Of course I can't catch this as well as you guys can. So it was always kind of a cop-out as well when I was growing up.

But like, you know. Seems like a fair cop-out. It was a cop-out. I'm dead. Oh my gosh. That's so funny. That's literally the truth. Dang.

That's so awesome. Okay. Well, my next, the other question I had, I guess, leads into our next topic that I'm really excited to talk about. Okay. Dancing with the Stars. Yeah. Yes.

We have had so much fun watching you. I mean, we also, we love Riley, so it's been fun, like, watching you guys together. When we found out you guys were being paired together, we were so just through the roof over the moon. Yeah, dream partnership. When they reached out to you to do the show, were you hesitant? Were you like, I have to do this? What were your thoughts? I was immediately like, oh my gosh, what is happening?

So they essentially offered it to me like just a, I think it was literally the day after team finals and we got that team medal. And, you know, I was still training because I had an individual competition coming up. And I was like, a lot is happening right now. They want me to answer this the night before Palm Horse finals. And I was like, holy crap, I have to think about it. And I was super hesitant at first because I don't dance. Like, even socially, like, I'm not a dancer. Like, it's one of the things that, like, I'm embarrassed to do straight up.

And all my buddies were like, dude, like, you can't dance. Like, what are you going to do? And I was like, guys, this is like a once in a lifetime opportunity. And I decided, like, my decision to join the show, I was like, you know what, this is a chance for someone who's never danced, who probably sucks at dancing, to just do it. And like, you know, let's be the guy that goes out there and can show people, like, you know, if you put four hours every day for a couple months, this is how good you can get. So, like, that was my motivation was just to be the guy who's never danced.

See how far it can go. And I've been loving every second of it. That's awesome. Well, you've definitely been showing that you can dance. That's shocking to hear. Yeah. We had Chandler on the other week. Yeah.

And we asked her how it compares, how the experience compares to what she thought it was going to be. And if there's any differences, I'd be curious to hear from you the same. I mean, I had literally no expectation. I had no idea what I was walking into. I was like, this is going to be a journey that I kind of want to walk into blindly. Like, I don't want to know what's coming next. I just want to walk in this room, meet my partner, and start learning. And one thing I can say is I never would have thought it would be so difficult to learn the steps

and how difficult it is to be technical. Like it's like the things that you have to focus on, like keeping shoulders down, chest out, hip sport. And there's so many small things that these judges and dancers are always. always looking for and doing. And it really is just like this incredible art form that is so, so difficult, but like really rewarding when you kind of do it. And then your partner goes, that was better.

And you're like, yes. Oh my gosh. That's so good. How does the training for Dancing with Stars compared to the Olympics? Because I feel like saying that sentence, like, when those two together really sounds silly. But we've talked with Olympians that have been on the show. And they're like, no, this is like 10 times harder. I was like, okay, well, I don't know about that, but I guess it makes sense because you've been doing, like, your sport your whole life.

So it's like a different one. It's a whole new thing. Yeah, but how does that compare? Yeah, no, that's pretty much exactly correct. Like, I trained 20 years for gymnastics. So, like, you know, by the time I'm at the Olympics, everything is pretty much the same. I go in, train, leave. And for dance, there is a sort of craziness to it because every week I'm learning new things.

I'm learning new skills and new techniques to a new song. And it is just like this crazy sort of time crunch that you have to deal with. And it's physically taxing. It is so mentally taxing as well. But you do it because when that Tuesday comes around, you actually get to perform your dance. It is just overwhelmingly, like, rewarding. And it does compare so well to, like, how I trained for the Olympics. Like, they are very similar.

I'd say even this might even be harder. That's so crazy. That's so crazy. Yeah. ballroom and like that kind of dance is just like absurd like it's so what you were saying so precise now things are done it's crazy um okay we talked about riley we love her um she she is um she's a big fan with the lemon drops how has been being partnered with her is she as nice as she comes across or is she a drill sergeant give us the juice yes i mean riley is an amazing person like both

of us, like, on a personal level, we get along so well. We are great friends. Um, but she is a good coach and she knows that sometimes it's drill sergeant Riley time. It's time. Like yesterday, I was not learning my step. And I could, and for me, I'm just like, oh, man, I feel bad because, like, I'm wasting Riley's time. And in her head, she's like, we are so cooked, you know? And like, and I'm like, Riley, please, like, let me just relax, calm down. We can learn these steps. But, like, she really does, like, step into that, you know, I'm a coach. And sometimes you need to take someone's leg and plays it here and go, dude, don't forget this again, or I'm going to get mad. But like, and that's, that is like a really great quality to have, my opinion, because as bubbly

and amazing as Riley is, like when you are coaching someone, especially someone who wasn't learning like I was yesterday, you need to do that. So like, she really does have both sides of the coin. And I think she's just a fantastic dance partner and coach. I'm sure you've had your fair share of coaches and gymnastics like that over the year. Oh, yeah. You're used to it. Exactly.

You can take it. Yep. How was the spray tan process? I just would like love to know about that. Yeah, so like it was literally just like... Whose idea was it? Oh, it was Riley's idea. Riley was like, we're getting a spray tan and it's going to be awesome.

And it was for that Hercules week, because, you know, we just need to tan up. I can't be looking this pale if I'm being Hercules. That's good. And no, the tanning people, they were so nice and so excited that they got to give me my first spray tan ever. They were like, this is an honor. And I was like, no, seriously. It's like, it's not that big of a deal. They brought like a camera crew in there to like record me getting it.

It was so funny. And Riley was like beyond excited. She's like, I can't believe I get some force you to get your first spray tan. But I mean, it was actually very enjoyable. It smelled quite nice. It does smell nice. And I think it made me look pretty good too. Do you foresee that being a part of your future for things?

So long as Riley tells me to, I will. So good. I can just hear her giggling as. you're getting it. Oh, yeah. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Has there been a favorite dance that you've done so far? I mean, it feels like every week I get to

say it's my new favorite. I'm going to list the top three. Okay, yeah. And they are hard for me to choose. The first one is the Argentine tango. It was such, like, a different performance. Like, when I did it, it was just, like, a different character to portray. And we got to start with, like, the pommel horse.

We got to do some, like, really cool lifts. And I thought it was just, like, a fantastic day. dance in itself. The second one is my contemporary for Halloween. Love that dance. I mean, it was not only just like a great performance, but it was like a hard dance. Like on my body, like every time I did those dive rolls and stuff, I'm bruising like my entire spine. So it's just like this mental fight with myself to go and do that. But I mean, I just feel like I really nailed that one. And like afterwards I was so excited. Like I literally was like, yeah. Like it was a gymnastics competition. Everyone's like, like, politely cheering in the back. And I'm like screaming.

And then, of course, you know, my Viennese waltz that I just did last week. And I just, you know, that was such a different dance. And when I heard that I had to do that and I watched Charlie and Mark's Vini's Waltz, I was like, I don't know if I can do that. That is insane. And, you know, I didn't expect to be able to do what they did. They are amazing. They are beyond amazing. But I was just so impressed with what I was able to do with, you know, my body and, you know, with Riley's choreography and the story that we told, I thought it was just like a beautiful dance. I'm like, no, it was, it was beautiful. And it's been really cool to watch you grow because you have, like, improved so much. And it's been cool to see, like, the notes that the judges give and then watch you, like, implement it the next week. So it's, it's, I feel like that's one of the most fun things about the show is for people that haven't danced before, watching them. And, like, Danny, too, like watching, like, watching you guys learn these little things and really implementing them. It's so cool. How has, I was just thinking about this, how has the lighting been with everything for you?

And even, I mean, I guess there is like doing, you know, having a partner and having to like be with someone with your depth perception. How is learning that been? Yeah. So like the lights themselves haven't been an issue whatsoever. Luckily that hasn't bothered me at all. And it's very rare that like I have to really spot something throughout a dance. Like every now and then, like Riley's going to be like, dude, you need this camera moment. you have to make sure you see that red light right there.

But, like, you know, other than that, I don't have to use, like, my vision too much. But the depth perception thing has gotten me, like, a little bit iffy sometimes. Like, in the contemporary, there's this one segment where I grab her arm and I grab her arm. And, like, there was probably, like, 10 times throughout that week where, like, I go to grab it and just miss. And I'm like, uh-oh, this could be an issue. Yeah. But, you know, for the most part, there are things that I've managed my whole life. And, you know, I can manage it in a dance routine, too.

Yeah. What's the biggest thing you've learned about yourself through this journey? I think that one of the things I'm learning is like, I have like an idea of things that I think I can't do. You know, dance is one of them for the longest time. And I think that like what I'm learning is like, you know, it's never too late to sort of push your own boundaries, kind of push what you're comfortable with. And, you know, there's something that is far more rewarding about pushing those boundaries than doing things that you are comfortable with. And like, I guess I can kind of move. I can find a beat and I can tell a really beautiful story just with my own body.

And it is just like amazing to see what this journey has, you know, done to me. Yeah. You are definitely the definition of if you put your mind to it. You can do it. Yeah. Well, we have just enjoyed watching you guys so much. And the show's almost over. And you're about to have some free time.

Yeah. What are you going to do with that free time? Yeah. Because you literally went straight from Olympics into dancing with the stars. Like, are you going to have free time? Are you going to, like, take a vacation or like... I mean, I haven't decided anything that I want to do in my free time yet. I know, like, December, I want to do a Penn State visit.

I want to go back to my alma mater, see my old coaches, see some of the guys that I used to train with, and just like, kind of just like, go there, be grounded, enjoy, you know, just a quick trip. And then I also have a national team camp coming up, which, in my opinion is going to be a little bit like a vacation because I haven't trained in so long. So sorry for the national team camp. I probably won't be able to do too much gymnastics. But it's going to be so great to see all my best friends, my national team members and Olympians.

And I just think like, you know, that's one of the things that I'm looking forward to the most right now. That's awesome. We can cut this out. But are you wanting to do the Olympics again? Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. We can keep that in, too. I didn't know if that was like if we were like announcing that you're wanting to do it.

Oh, yeah. No, I'm going for 28. 100%. Wait, and that's here? Yeah, it is. Isn't that crazy? Yes. Oh, wow.

Insane. Okay. Oh, my gosh. I love to hear it. Well, thank you so much for being here. This has been an honor. You are just like, like I was saying, just your perseverance with everything is really cool to see. It was just a pleasure meeting you.

And you're, you can just, you're a good person. You have such a good heart and spirit, and it's so fun to get. get to watch people like you succeed in so many different realms. So we will be rooting for you, especially in four years. I really appreciate it. And this has been a blast. Thank you guys for having. Thank you.

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