‘Clark Kent to Superman!’ – Olympics fans obsessed with Stephen Nedoroscik after pommel horse expert ends 16-year wait
Move over Simone Biles, there's a new Olympics hero in town.
On Monday, the US men's gymnastics team finished third to win an Olympic medal for the first time since 2008.
Paul Juda, Asher Hong, Brody Malone and Frederick Richard all more than did their part in the historic bronze but Stephen Nedoroscik was the man of the hour for many.
The bespectacled pommel horse expert's only contribution on the night came on the very last routine.
The 25-year-old - who is a world champion in the pommel horse - was a unique inclusion in the men's team as he only does only one of six events, when most high-level gymnasts are expected to compete in several if not all.
Nedoroscik - dubbed 'Clark Kent' by fans due to his likeness with the fictional alter ego of Superman -- closed out the US men's rotation on pommel horse, nailing his routine with a score of 14.866.
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He earned a huge cheer from the crowd and chants of 'USA! USA!' as his teammates threw him in the air in celebration.
It meant the US captured their first podium in the team final for 16 years. Japan won gold, while China took silver.
Fans online were loving the newly-crowned Olympics hero.
"Absolutely incredible performance from Stephen Nedoroscik! His pommel horse routine was a game-changer for Team USA."
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"HE DID IT!! STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK (14.866) DID IT!!! Clark Kent gave us Superman!!"
"Wow, talk about coming through under pressure. The kid who looks like Clark Kent, who has been sitting around all day waiting for his one event, just took off his glasses and turned into Superman to put the US men's gymnastics team in position for a medal. #Respect," another said.
Speaking about his famous goggles, Nedoroscik previously : “They’re more for show than anything,” he said. “They don’t have prescription in them. We’ll see if they make an appearance in one of the next couple of competitions I have."
US gymnastics legend Simone Biles shared a photo of the men's team to Instagram with the caption: "LFG!!!!!!"
It comes after Nedoroscik delivered an impressive routine during Saturday's qualification.
“It went really well today, I handled the nerves very well,” Nedoroscik said. “I worked my whole life up to those 45 seconds.”
“This is just another day of doing the gymnastics,” said Nedoroscik, who has won two NCAA championships at Penn State.
“Sure it’s the biggest stage in the world. It only happens once every four years, but at the same time I’m putting chalk on my hands and doing the horse for the team, it’s nothing different.
“I love to cheer on people, so that’s another reason I love starting on horse, because I can get rid of the energy that I needed to do my routine and then immediately dump the rest and then cheering all the guys on, carrying their bags running around getting waters,” he said.
Nedoroscik's Olympics are not over yet though as he will now try his hand in the pommel horse final, which takes place on Saturday.