Stephen Nedoroscik Under Fire After Video Shows Him Whipping Pommel Horse

PARIS—Sending waves of shock and outrage throughout the sporting world, U.S. gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik was under fire Thursday after a newly surfaced video showed the Olympic athlete whipping a pommel horse. “That poor pommel horse—it was just standing there, cowering, as he struck it again and again,” said American gymnast Asher Hong, condemning what he called the “cruel” behavior in the video, which captured Nedoroscik repeatedly beating the pommel horse and led USA Gymnastics to suspend the 25-year-old bronze medalist from competition for the next six months. “You could tell it was traumatized. Completely frozen. Even if he was just trying to train it, there is absolutely no excuse for that kind of behavior. At the very least, he should consider making a sizable donation to a farm for retired pommel horses.” At press time, Olympic officials reportedly launched an investigation after a pommel horse was found oozing foam.