Stephen Nedoroscik is switching out his leotard for a dance costume.  

And when he first takes to the stage as part of the season 33 cast of Dancing with the Stars with partner Rylee Arnold, there is an important person who will be cheering them on the entire time: Stephen’s longtime girlfriend Tess McCracken. 

“She’s already out there in LA with me,” the two-time Olympic medalist exclusively told E! News. “And we brought the kitty. We got the whole house set up, we’re comfy.” (For more with Stephen and the rest of the DWTS cast, tune into E! News tonight, Sept. 4.)

But on whether Tess has shared any dancing tips, Stephen joked, “No, no. I don’t need ‘em right?” Adding of his partner Rylee, who danced with Harry Jowsey last season, “She’s gonna give me all the dancing tips I could ever ask for.” 

But while the 25-year-old has proven to be a pro on the pommel horse, ballroom dancing will come with its own set of challenges, as Stephen admitted, “I don’t really know how to dance.” 

Yet, there are just enough similarities. 

“Maybe not an immediate translation from gymnastics to dance,” Stephen reflected, “but I think the approach to gymnastics is similar to the approach in dance. I’m out there learning a skill, and then I’m putting it in a routine, I’m training that, and then I’m performing in front of judges and a live audience.”

He continued, “It’s almost just like gymnastics, so I have a feeling the process of getting to routine shape is going to be very similar.” 

The Worcester, Ma., native first rose to national fame during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he helped Team USA win a team bronze medal in gymnastics before taking home another bronze in the individual pommel horse event.

And while Stephen makes it look easy, for Tess, who was watching in the audience, the experience wasn’t as effortless.  

“It is the most stressful thing I've ever done,” she told E! News in August. “I wear a Fitbit, and my heart rate easily goes over 140 beats a minute when he goes. Even before he goes, just thinking about the fact that he's about to go, it starts climbing.”

A gymnast herself, Tess, 26, added, “It's so much harder than when I competed. Beam was my best event, and competing beam was easier than watching him go.” 

So while watching her boyfriend of eight years is likely to be just as heart racing, Tess is in it for the long haul. After all, as she put it, “We’re each other’s person.” 

“We don't get tired of each other,” she continued. “We don't feel like we need like that break. I think that has really helped over the last eight years—just keep us solid. And it's been a great time.” 

To meet the rest of Stephen’s competition on Dancing with the Stars—including the other Olympian in the cast—keep reading. 

The inspriation behind Inventing Anna will trade her ankle bracelet for dancing shoes alongside partner Ezra Sosa. 

The Olympic rugby player is ready to ruck up the dance floor with pro Alan Bersten. 

The Disney Channel star will try to dance her way to the top with partner Brandon Armstrong. 

The model and her partner Gleb Savchenko are ready to strut along the ballroom. 

The Dark Knight star is partnered with Britt Stewart. 

All that matters for this Family Matters alum and partner Emma Slater is taking home the mirrorball trophy. 

The Bachelor alum has found his rose between thorns in partner Jenna Johnson. 

The alum of 90210 is oh so ready to dance alongside Pasha Pashkov. 

The NFL pro and partner Witney Carson are sure to score a touchdown on the dance floor. 

The NBA star is sure to stand head and shoulders above the competitoin with partner & Daniella Karagach. 

The Olympian has his sights set on another medal—or should we say mirrorball trophy—with partner Rylee Arnold. 

The Traitors alum is sure to weed out the competition with partner Val Chmerkovskiy. 

The Bachelorette star and partner Sasha Farber will be in full bloom in the ballroom. 

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