Following her successful campaign at the Paris Olympics, Simone Biles has embarked on the Gold Over America tour to inspire the next generation of gymnasts. This tour, now in its second edition, features an array of gymnasts, including Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Riviera. This year, the lineup has expanded to include male gymnasts, such as Brody Malone, Fred Richard, and Yul Moldauer, who were not part of the previous tour. However, one notable absence is Stephen Nedoroscik.
Instead of joining the tour, Nedoroscik chose to compete in this season’s “Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS), making his debut on September 17. Just hours before his performance, Biles, who was in Oceanside for the Gold Over America tour’s first appearance, was asked for her thoughts on Nedoroscik. Having previously competed on DWTS, Biles had some words of wisdom to share. When asked for advice, she recommended that he “just have fun.” She also acknowledged the difficulty of the competition, explaining, “It’s hard. Like dancing with the stars was so hard, it’s long hours. I feel like it’s almost harder than the gymnastics that we do. But we’re so out of our element.”
Nedoroscik’s first performance on DWTS was well-received. He and his partner danced to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” earning a score of 21, which tied for the third-highest score of the episode. When asked if she had spoken to him before his debut, Biles mentioned that she hadn’t, but some of the gymnasts on the tour had visited him during rehearsals and reported that he was doing well. Gymnasts like Brody Malone and Fred Richards, who are part of the tour, went to see Nedoroscik before his appearance on the show.
Biles also praised Nedoroscik’s dance partner, Rylee Arnold, calling her “such a great partner” and adding, “I mean, she’s so cute. Yeah, I love Rylee, I love the whole family so I’m really excited.” Rylee Arnold’s family is no stranger to the show, as her sister Lindsay Arnold used to be a choreographer on DWTS. Lindsay finished second in a previous season alongside baseball player David Ross, during the same season Biles competed.
Simone Biles has her own history with “Dancing with the Stars.” She competed in the show’s 24th season in 2017, already a five-time Olympic medalist. Despite her natural athletic talent, she found dancing to be a challenge. While she and her partner, Sasha Farber, became fan favorites, the judges were sometimes critical, noting that she did not smile enough during performances. In the eighth week, she famously told host Tom Bergeron, “Smiling doesn’t win you gold medals.” Biles later revealed that the experience took a significant emotional toll on her, admitting that she nearly broke down during that eighth week. Despite the struggles, she and Farber managed to finish fourth in the competition. Her time on the show is now just a small chapter in her illustrious career, as she has since added six more Olympic medals to her record, solidifying her status as one of the greatest of all time.
