HomeInspirational StoriesOlympics viewers amazed by Team USA athlete who ‘rawdogged’ event and won Bronze
Olympics viewers amazed by Team USA athlete who ‘rawdogged’ event and won Bronze
August 3, 2024
Olympic viewers have been left in awe by a gymnast from Team USA who appeared to “rawdog” his event before winning bronze. I’m no athlete so I can’t even begin to tell you how they prepare themselves for the Olympics, but it seems like everyone has their own routine. Read More
Before their big moment, some might listen to music while others will perhaps talk to their coaches and get some last-minute pointers.
But then there’s Stephen Nedoroscik from Team USA, who has affectionally been dubbed the “pommel horse guy”.
The gymnast has been spotted “rawdogging” his event, which if you aren’t away, is a trend doing the rounds at the minute.
It usually applies to people on long-haul flights who opt for no entertainment, bathroom breaks, or food and just stare at the seat in front of them until the plane lands.
The trend has now apparently made its way to the Olympics.
On July 29, Nedoroscik not only excelled in his event but also played a crucial role in securing the men’s team their first artistic gymnastics Olympic medal in 16 years.
Nedoroscik’s performance was remarkable in itself, but what made it even more extraordinary was his decision to compete without his glasses, which many online have claimed falls under the term “raw dogging”.
Nedoroscik suffers from strabismus, an abnormal alignment of the eyes, and coloboma, a condition that results in a hole in one of the structures of the eye.
He has also mentioned being photophobic, or light sensitive, due to these conditions.
Speaking to TODAY, he shared: “I am representing people that wear glasses well,” explaining that he removes his glasses to prevent them from flying off during his routines.
“It’s not necessarily clear, but the thing about pommel horses is if I keep them on, they’re gonna fly somewhere,” Nedoroscik said.
“When I go up on the pommel horse, it’s all about feeling the equipment. I don’t even really see when I’m doing my gymnastics. It’s all in the hands – I can feel everything.”
Viewers were mesmerized by his performance. One user on X (formerly Twitter) expressed their astonishment.
They wrote: “As a glasses wearer it’s so deeply chaotic to me to see him take his glasses off to compete and then immediately put them back on. Can he… see without them? Is he just raw dogging the Olympic pommel horse without being able to see?!?”
A second admirer remarked: “Obsessed with this guy on the US men’s gymnastics team whose only job is pommel horse, so he just sits there until he’s activated like a sleeper agent, whips off his glasses like Clark Kent and does a pommel horse routine that helps deliver the team its first medal in 16 years.”
A third chimed in, stating: “I’ve been the biggest fan of this guy ever since I found out he existed… last night during the #Olympics. Seriously, who takes off their glasses and then nails a pommel horse routine like a superhero? Glasses wearers everywhere are tipping their frames to you, Steve!”
