Dancing with the Stars’ all-athletes season: Who’s most likely to win?
(ABC/Craig Sjodin)
WITNEY CARSON, CHRIS MAZDZER
Chris Mazdzer and Witney Carson
DWTS has not one, not two, not three, but four competitors from the most recent Olympic Games. Sure, it’s been a few months, but that doesn’t mean that the audience’s memory has faded that badly. Of the four, though, Chris Mazdzer might have the toughest time breaking through. Sure, he’s got a great pointed toe here, and he could do really well because of the speed and fine body control needed for his sport, luge.
But he’ll need really great scores to stop the other three recent Olympians from taking up all the attention.
(ABC/Craig Sjodin)
JAMIE ANDERSON, ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV
Jamie Anderson and Artem Chigvintsev
Hopefully, DWTS won’t costume Jamie Anderson in some ballroom version of her snowboarding gear. That’s probably going to happen now that I’ve said it and due to this picture, but hey, it’s still possible.
Anyway, she’s a double gold medalist in what’s probably the second most popular Winter Olympic sport: snowboarding. That alone is a great story. Besides, snowboarding takes a lot of body control, just like luge, and there’s a rhythm to it that could help her pick up dancing.
(ABC/Craig Sjodin)
ADAM RIPPON, JENNA JOHNSON
Adam Rippon and Jenna Johnson
Oh, come on, this just isn’t fair.
Adam Rippon was one of the most visible American Olympians at PyeongChang this year. He’s also a male figure skater, and if you’ve seen any of his programs, you know he has a knack for artistry that could make him tough to beat.
His partner, though, is a bit of an X-factor here. Jenna Johnson’s usually only part of the troupe, but she’s been among the pro partners befor … and was eliminated first. Having Rippon as her partner is one heck of a second chance.
(ABC/Craig Sjodin)
MIRAI NAGASU, ALAN BERSTEN
Mirai Nagasu and Alan Bersten
You all know how this writer feels about Mirai Nagasu.
And she really wanted to be on the show.
We’re not saying that she’s got perhaps the best chance to compete with her fellow Olympian up there, but she probably does. Besides, female figure skaters have a tendency to do pretty well — Kristi Yamaguchi and Meryl Davis, anyone?
(Yes, we know Davis is an ice dancer.)
She has a ton of athleticism as well, and Alan Bersten’s a pretty great partner. My head says Rippon’s the one to beat, but Nagasu could definitely give him a run for his money.
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Who do you want to win this season of DWTS?