How these Olympic and Paralympic gold medalists are shaking up 'Dancing with the Stars'
The ballroom is heating up in season 35 of "Dancing with the Stars," and many are wondering if a gold medalist will take home the mirrorball trophy.
The second week of the competition took place last night, sending Giada De Laurentiis home but also seeing an Olympic gold medalist and Paralympic gold medalist at the top of the leaderboard. The two athletes found themselves in a three-way tie with actress Jenna Dewan, each with a score of 21.
During the show's Viral Hits Night, figure skater and Olympic Gold Medalist Amber Glenn performed a powerful tango, while track and field star and Paralympic Gold Medalist Ezra Frech delivered a showstopping cha-cha.
Here's how they're dancing their way to the top.
How did the judges respond to their performances?
After they performed their routines on Tuesday night, each athlete received positive reviews from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.
Frech took the dance floor first with a cha-cha to "Low" by Flo Rida, choreographed by his pro-dance partner Daniella Karagach. The dance received thunderous applause in the ballroom, with Inaba exclaiming, "What the Frech, Ezra?! You can move!"
The Paralympic Gold Medalist and world-record holder, who was born with congenital limb differences, also wowed Hough, who said that he was "in awe" of Frech and can't wait to see what he does next in the ballroom. Meanwhile, Tonioli said Frech's performance was "fab-u-lous."
Following her "DWTS" debut last week with the cha-cha, Glenn took to the dance floor last night with a tango to "All the Things She Said" from "Heated Rivalry." Harrison, the DJ behind the song, was also on hand to perform the song live for Glenn and her pro-dance partner Pasha Pashkov.
Tonioli called Glenn's performance the "best tango of the night," while Inaba called it "phenomenal" and said that she got "full body chills."
How Glenn and Frech are bringing their competitive mindset to the ballroom
In interviews leading up to the premiere of "DWTS" last week, Glenn and Frech each shared how they are ready to bring their A-game to the ballroom.
For Glenn, she spoke to Entertainment Tonight about that athletic mentality ahead of the premiere and said she is "ready to work."
"I'm there to learn and being able to learn something new after doing the same thing for 21 years, it is so nice to be a student again and just be so surprised," she added. "I'm used to being so square and ready and it's like no, no, no. New muscles being used."
After Frech made his ballroom debut last week, he told E! News that there are some similarities in the way he approached his first dance in the ballroom and how he approaches a competition day.
"My meditation and the way I warm up my body and the way I -- just demeanor," he added. "On the track, I'm doing something that I've done since I was 8 years old. Versus here, three weeks ago, I wouldn't even have known half of the stuff even meant. And so it's a little bit out of my comfort zone but it was so much fun."
Who are their dance partners?
If Glenn and Frech make it to the finals, then the mirrorball trophy could be going to the Pashkov household this season.
Their partners, Pashkov and Karagach, respectively, are married and have been dance partners since 2009. Together, the duo has won 10 national titles and multiple international and domestic championships.
In 2021, Karagach became the "Dancing with the Stars" season 30 Mirrorball Champion with NBA star Iman Shumpert. She was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy for outstanding choreography for a variety or reality program for her contemporary dance to "I Got 5 on It."
While many online have said that Karagach's choreography is unmatched, Pashkov is also making a case for himself to win the Mirrorball. After performing with Glenn on Tuesday night, Tonioli praised Pashkov for his choreography, saying, "I haven't seen in a very long time. And those X lines? Come on. Exquisite."
Next week, the 13 remaining couples will go head-to-head in the competition during its Yacht Rock Night.
"Dancing with the Stars" airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming on Disney+. Episodes stream the next day on Hulu.
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