Stephen Nedoroscik and Tess McCracken first met in college, and they’ve been sticking the landing ever since.
Eight years into their relationship, the gymnast duo have perfected their routine—and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I think it's really that we just get each other,” Tess told E! News in an exclusive interview from the 2024 Paris Olympics, adding the key is all about, “Being able to have the intellectual conversations, the gymnastics conversations—we very frequently end up having debates”
And in typical fashion of athletes who need a cool head under pressure, Stephen, 25, and Tess, 26, keep things calm.
As she explained, “Neither one of us gets worked up. We disagree, we go back and forth with our logic, we think about it. And that's really great.”
Because at the end of the day, there’s no other place they’d rather be than with each other.
“We're each other's person,” Tess summed it up. “We don't get tired of each other. 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.”
Most recently, that great time carried the pair all the way to the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Tess was there to support Stephen as he helped lead his team to a bronze medal win—their first medal in 16 years—with a near-perfect pommel horse routine.
But while Stephen—who is a two-time NCAA Champion, has placed first in two World Cup events and, in 2021, became the first American World Champion on the pommel horse—makes the event look almost effortless, it doesn’t make it any easier for Tess watching from the sidelines.
“It is the most stressful thing I've ever done,” she confessed. “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.”
In fact, Tess is such an empathetic viewer that when she watches from home on the TV, she has an interesting routine.
“I will pause the broadcast before he goes and then wait until like, Twitter or someone says how he did,” she admitted, “and then I'll go back and watch it, because I can't take the anxiety.”
“It's so much harder than when I competed,” she added. “Beam was my best event, and competing beam was easier than watching him go.”
But as difficult as it was to watch him compete on the pommel horse at the Olympics—which ultimately earned the high score of 15.200—Tess and Stephen have been reveling in his newfound stardom after he became an online sensation.
Including all the memes that have come with it.
“My favorite so far has been the ‘and your friends Steve, do-do-do-do-do-do-do Steve,’” Tess said of the Garfunkel and Oates TikTok sound. “I love that one.”
And while she noted Stephen, too, has loved the many comparisons that have been made, including those to Lebron James and Superman’s alter ego Clark Kent, Tess said the 25-year-old is currently preparing for his pommel horse individual final on August 3.
“He is trying to get locked in,” Tess explained. “He had a lot of media the last few days, a lot of appearances and interviews. Ad he kind of put his foot down and said, “I need to focus and get back dialed in. I'm only training from here on out through Saturday, and then we can talk again afterwards.’”
But while Stephen’s individual medal fate remains undecided at this point, read on for some of the most memorable moments to come out of Paris so far.
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
LeBron James and Steph Curry were definitely feeling it after the USA men's basketball team beat Serbia to advance to the finals.
2 Become 1
Xu Shixiao and Sun Mengya from Team China were clearly working together during the women's canoe double 500-meter semifinal.
Come On, Gold!
Team USA's Sha'carri Richardson picked up her first gold in the women's 4x100-meter relay.
A Most Iconic Duo
Everyone's favorite BFFs Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart hitched a ride on a golf cart.
High Kicks
Team China's Liang Yushuai gave folks a new photo pose to try next time they visit the Eiffel Tower.
Careful With the Bike!
Dutch cyclist Harrie Lavreysen was very enthusiastic about nabbing a second gold medal.
Shock and Awe
Emma Roberts couldn't believe what she was seeing during the men's semi-final basketball match between the USA and Serbia.
Chomping On the Gold
Tara Davis-Woodhall of Team USA went for the customary biting of the medal after winning gold in the women's long jump.
Don't Lose Your Shirt
Sergio Camello of Spain found his own way to celebrate after scoring his fifth goal against France.
A Trip to Sesame Street
Elmo loves getting hugs from Simone Biles.
Tuck It In
Emilia Nilsson Garip of Sweden dove into the water during the women's 3 meters springboard final.
A Slam Dunk
Gabrielle Union was cheering on Team USA as they went head-to-head with Serbia in the men's basketball semi-final match.
Nothing Left For Them To Do But Dance
Team Spain got into the groove during the rhythmic gymnastics competition.
Royal Onlookers
Ben-Sylvester Strautmann, Alexandra de Hanovre, Prince Albert of Monaco and Alain Bernard cheer while at the Men's Team Bronze medal match.
Double the Fun
Paulina Paszek and Jule Marie Hake of Team Germany celebrate earning third place in the Women's kayak double 500m final.
Zoom In
Carmelo Anthony wanted to remember the moment as he and son Kiyan Anthony watched Team USA beat Serbia in men's basketball.
A Queen
Team USA's Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone celebrated after breaking her own record and winning gold in the women's 400m hurdles final.
Twisting Every Which Way
Elzhana Taniyeva of Kazakhstan showed off her very impressive range at the rhythmic gymnastics Individual all round.
Parisian Pride
One fan really wanted everyone to know which country he was rooting for.
Go, Dad, Go
Bronny James cheered on father LeBron James as Team USA took on Serbia in the Men's basketball semifinals competition.
Quick Break
Noah Lyles of Team USA needed a second after competing in the men's 200m final.
Not the Face!
Great Britain's Bradly Sinden tried to protect the goods during the Men's Taekwondo 68kg quarterfinals.
Dance It Out
Italy's Milena Baldassarri put on quite the show during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around competition.
Yee-Haw!
Tara David-Woodhall pulled out the cowboy hat after winning gold in women's long jump competition.
Flying Through the Air
Team USA's Tom Schaar put on quite the aerial display while competing in the men's park skateboarding final.
Go Team!
USA's water polo team was full of excitement as they beat Australia and advanced to the semifinals.
Going for the Ball
The game was heated as the USA took on Nigeria in the women's quarterfinal basketball match.
One Final Hurdle
Grant Holloway repped the USA after winning the gold medal in the Men's 110m hurdles final.
Do You Even Lift?
Venezuela's Katherin Echandia Zarate showed that she never skips arm day during the weightlifting competition.
An Unfortuante Spill
Michelle Jenneke of Australia didn't quite clear her hurdle in her Women's 100m heat.