10 Rio Olympians Who Might End Up on the Upcoming Season of Dancing With the Stars
By Isobel Moody
Aug 15, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Gabby Douglas (USA) during the women
Amid all the rumours and leaks of who is going to be on the next season of Dancing With the Stars, a look at Olympic possibilities.
The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero are currently winding down, and while we were all watching this week, Dancing with the Stars announced that the upcoming 23rd season will be announced August 30. The season itself will premiere September 12. Since the announcement, the casting rumors have been flying fast and thick. The names of multiple athletes currently competing at the Olympics have surfaced. That’s unsurprising; the seasons of Dancing with the Stars that have happened after an Olympics have almost always included at least one competitor from them. They tend to go for gold medalists, but it’s not a prerequisite, especially since they often enter negotiations with higher-profile athletes even before they compete. (It’s known they signed gold-winning men’s skater Evan Lysacek before he actually won, and when he wasn’t the main favorite beforehand).
They were certainly doing that this time, according to accounts. It first was claimed that young gymnastics queen Simone Biles is in the cast. Unfortunately, she has since said it won’t work with her schedule, at least this coming fall. Another source claims Ryan Lochte would’ve been in, after many years of the producers wanting him, except that after recent events they cut negotiations, but they are also approaching swimming queen Katie Ledecky. Yet another denies at least the bit about Lochte. Today it was announced talks were back on again, which seems like a test leak to see how fans react. There’s even been speculation about Michael Phelps. But if they are scrambling to find a replacement for the wayward swimmer, or even if they aren’t, there are plenty of athletes who may have already been on their radar, or might have popped up onto it with their accomplishments.
Here is a list of ten Olympians they might have signed:
Next: Gabrielle Douglas, Gymnastics