Frederick Richard, Stephen Nedoroscik Become First New Englanders to Medal for Team USA in 2024 Olympics

As of the end of Monday, July 29, Team USA continued to lead the pack in most medals earned for the 2024 Paris Olympics at 20.

And capping off the day was the men's gymnastic team scoring a bronze medal, their first in over 16 years, according to Time Magazine. U-S-A! U-S-A!

But what makes that historic moment even more amazing is the fact that two of the members marked the first earned medals for New Englanders in the 2024 Paris Olympics: Stephen Nedoroscik of Worcester, Massachusetts, and Frederick Richard of Stoughton, Massachusetts.

Their win with their teammates Paul Juda, Brody Malone and Asher Hong is a testament to their dedication, perseverance, and exceptional skill.

No surprise that USA Gymnastics would give them a shout out on X either.

And did you know that, according to NBC, Nedoroscik "qualified for the Olympic team solely on the strength of his pommel horse routine"?

You can watch his incredible routine that helped win the bronze medal here.

The 25-year-old Massachusetts native said after his routine, according to PEOPLE, "It was just the greatest moment of my life, I think. [I’m] so happy to have been there.”

And Nedoroscik certainly has become a fan favorite and the face of a bunch of memes comparing him to Clark Kent thanks to his glasses. If you've been following the games, you've probably seen some of them.

The other Massachusetts native making a name for himself, 20-year-old Richard, according to USA TODAY, "delivered team-best performances in the floor, parallel bars and horizontal bar," which helped the USA to its bronze win.

Additionally, Boston.com stated that he is the youngest male American gymnast to win an individual all-around medal at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championship.

How amazing is that?

Their hard work paid off on the world’s biggest stage, likely inspiring future generations of athletes from New England and beyond, but it's only the beginning.

“We’re told all our lives the American dream, you have a dream and you give everything every day towards it and eventually it comes true," Richard said, according to USA Today. "And we all are always waiting to see if that’s really true, but I’m standing here with a medal around my neck after going to the gym every day, hours and hours and giving everything. It’s like the universe paid you back, so I’m living the American dream. That’s what it feels like."

But don't worry, those two aren't done for the games quite yet. Nedoroscik will be in the individual pommel horse finals on Saturday, August 3, and Richard will be in the all-around final on Wednesday, July 31.

Congrats to Frederick Richard and Stephen Nedoroscik for making history and bringing Olympic glory to New England! U-S-A! U-S-A!