Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik chats with THR alongside 'Dancing With the Stars' pro Rylee Arnold and dishes on his dancing skills so far in the competition. Plus, he reveals how his skills as an Olympic gymnast could carry over on the ballroom floor.
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00:00What's it like to be a part of this season?
00:02It's exciting. You know, this whole journey has been so exciting.
00:05I'm enjoying every minute of it.
00:06Can't wait to get out there and compete.
00:08Well, you've been going very viral this summer, mister.
00:11So how has the reactions been like?
00:14Have you seen all the TikToks?
00:15I've seen the TikToks.
00:16I mean, they took over my feed for like a day and I was like,
00:19this is really surreal for me.
00:21I'm trying to enjoy some TikTok and it's me.
00:23That's it. That's insane.
00:25Who was the person to tell you that you were going viral?
00:27And did you expect that at all?
00:28I mean, I don't think anyone expects to go viral, but like,
00:31were you just like, wait, what's happening?
00:32Yeah, I never could have expected it.
00:34But after team final, I unluckily was the one who got drug tested.
00:38So went and did that.
00:40And I hadn't looked at my phone for hours.
00:42Finally got to dinner and my girlfriend test.
00:44She was like, have you looked at your phone yet?
00:46And I'm like, no, what's up?
00:48She's like, you're trending on Twitter.
00:51Kidding me. It was insane.
00:53It was insane.
00:55Riley, how excited are you to be partnered up with him this season?
00:58Seriously, so excited.
00:59I truly think I got such an amazing partner and was so excited
01:02when he was announced on the show.
01:04And we've just been having so much fun together.
01:06And I can't wait for this season.
01:08Well, there's also your second season back as a pro.
01:11What are you hoping to bring to the table this season?
01:14Maybe lessons learned from the previous season?
01:16I feel like my first season, I was just so nervous and like
01:19I didn't know much about it.
01:20So I feel way more experienced this time around.
01:23I'm really excited to have my partner, Steven, with me.
01:25And I think we're going to make a great do and have a really good time together.
01:29How have rehearsals been going so far?
01:31You've had like one or two, right?
01:32Yeah, just like two rehearsals.
01:34It's been really good.
01:35We've been doing great.
01:36We're having fun and he's killing it.
01:37So, Steven, how would you rate your dance skills on a scale from one to ten?
01:42Right now, we're still learning.
01:44So right now they might be like a five, six.
01:47What do you think?
01:48Yeah, maybe a little better than a five and a six.
01:51I don't have reference points yet, so I don't know how good I am.
01:54But all I can say is I'm enjoying it.
01:57Riley's a great teacher.
01:58Well, I heard that the athletes do pretty well on this show.
02:01So how do you think that your skills are going to carry over?
02:04I think they're going to carry over, not in a direct way,
02:06but I think like my mental side of it, my preparation for gymnastics
02:10is going to be very similar to the preparation for dance.
02:12So I'm just going to take that mentality and use it on the dance floor.
02:16Maybe a pommel horse as a prop this season.
02:18Maybe, maybe.
02:19You may see it.
02:21OK, OK.
02:22Is there a song or an artist that you're looking forward to
02:25hopefully dancing to this season?
02:27I mean, I'm looking forward to literally every single one of these songs
02:29and dances.
02:30I mean, immediately I'm looking forward to the the opening show.
02:35Am I allowed to say the song?
02:36I don't think so.
02:36Ha ha ha. No.
02:38Oh, so close.
02:39But we're excited.
02:41Riley, I want to ask, you know, Lindsay Arnold, your sister was a former pro.
02:46We saw her a lot last season when you were having your first season as a pro.
02:50What would it take to get her back on the show?
02:51Because I think a sister pro season would be very fun.
02:54Oh, I've tried so hard.
02:56I would love to have her on a season with me.
02:58I think it would be the best time ever.
02:59But she's just such an amazing mom.
03:01Her home is in Utah and with her kids and her kids are just the cutest.
03:06And I think it's not really the best time for her right now.
03:08But I do think it's in her future.
03:10And I do think it will happen eventually.
03:12And I'm just excited for when it does.
03:14And finally, I wanted to ask.
03:15I know there's so many amazing theme nights that happen every season.
03:19So I want to know if you guys could pick your own theme night for the show,
03:22what would it be?
03:25Oh, that's so hard.
03:27Maybe like a Ariana Grande theme night
03:31with all her songs.
03:33Yeah, I can see that working out.
03:35She had a pommel horse for part of her concert one time.
03:39So, yes, she did.
03:40Uh huh. Wow.
03:42I don't I do literally DM her and asked if I could have it.
03:45What did she say?
03:47Ariana Grande!
03:49Yeah, maybe we can borrow the pommel horse for this.
03:52Please.