2024-07-31 10:50:02
Clark Kent had Lois Lane.
Peter Parker had Mary Jane.
And Stephen Nedoroscik has Tess McCracken.
McCracken, 26, was among the thousands in the Paris crowds cheering on her boyfriend, the Olympic gymnast-turned-internet darling, as he helped Team USA secure a spot on the podium Monday.
She has also been reveling in the plethora of memes about Nedoroscik, who became lovingly known to thousands of online fans as “pommel horse guy,” “babygirl” and Superman/Clark Kent.
“Blowing up on the internet has been such an unexpected side effect of this whole adventure,” McCracken said in a phone interview Tuesday.
The couple, who have been dating for eight years, met at Penn State University, where they both competed in gymnastics.
Nedoroscik, 25, qualified for the Olympic team solely on the strength of his pommel horse routine. In the past 24 hours, he became an internet favorite after he sat on the sidelines for nearly three hours during the first five rotations before he anchored the U.S. on his specialty event.
McCracken described Nedoroscik as a “goofy guy” who is “really lighthearted” and “always sees the bright side of things.”
To see “the general public and the internet … go on and on about him and just make all of these memes — it has been one of the best times,” she said.
McCracken said Nedoroscik was previously likened to actor Tom Holland and his Marvel superhero character, Spider-Man. In an interview with NBC’s “TODAY” show, Nedoroscik said he considers the Clark Kent comments “an awesome comparison.”
Meanwhile, McCracken has earned her own nickname from some online fans.
“I have people like tagging me, calling me ‘Lois Lane.’ I’m like, ‘OK, I’m not going to be mad about it,’” she said with a laugh.
Nedoroscik was the final athlete to compete in his category, and while he did his routine, McCracken said, she had only one thought on her mind: “Stay on the horse.”
“I was so lightheaded from screaming that I almost fainted,” she said.
Her friends and family group chats have been blowing up, with loved ones sharing different viral memes about Nedoroscik since the competition.
“I love them so much,” McCracken said of the memes. “I’ve retweeted almost every single one.”
McCracken’s favorite meme has been a TikTok video posted by the official NBC Olympics & Paralympics account, which uses the song “You, Me and Steve” by the comedic duo Garfunkel and Oates.
The couple plan to sightsee in Paris for a few days, she said. But the Games are not over for social media’s Olympic Superman: He competes again Saturday during the men’s pommel horse finals.
