- 2 years ago
No injury can put these dancers in the corner. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the “DWTS” contestants who bravely kept dancing through their pain.
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00:00 [Music]
00:04 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for Dancing with the Stars contestants
00:10 who bravely kept dancing through their pain.
00:12 [Music]
00:18 Number 10 - Xochi Gomez
00:20 [Music]
00:26 Going into week six, Xochi Gomez was tied for the highest scores in season 32,
00:31 after consistently wowing with Val Chmerkovski no matter the dance style.
00:35 Then came Monster Night. Performing a chilling contemporary, Gomez was her usual graceful self.
00:41 But both the judges and viewers noted some unsteadiness to her foot placement.
00:44 [Music]
00:51 She was even fine for the dance marathon hustle in Charleston later that night,
00:55 securing the highest points.
00:56 "He definitely carried for the dance marathon, oh my gosh."
00:59 Unfortunately, she wasn't out of the woods for the following week's music video night.
01:04 Gomez posted a wince-inducing landing to her TikTok,
01:08 showing her ankle going decidedly the wrong way.
01:11 Despite some close calls, Gomez is ever the trooper.
01:14 [Music]
01:20 Number 9 - Ralph Macchio
01:23 Picture this, you're on the brink of the semifinals,
01:25 and the mirror ball is starting to feel within reach.
01:28 But suddenly, a leg injury jeopardizes your entire Dancing with the Stars journey.
01:32 "We should really get an MRI to see what we're dealing with.
01:34 I'm gonna be at a disadvantage. I'm losing some rehearsal time, and I already feel behind."
01:41 That was the harsh reality for Karate Kid actor Ralph Macchio,
01:45 who endured a knee cyst rupture before the week eight double dance night,
01:48 where he performed a Viennese waltz in Cha-Cha-Cha.
01:51 [Music]
01:58 Due to the injury, they reportedly only got in about nine hours of rehearsal time.
02:03 There was also the added challenge of instant dance week,
02:06 which meant preparing choreography without knowing exactly what song they would be dancing to.
02:11 While their scores suffered slightly, they beat the odds to dance another week.
02:15 [Music]
02:23 Number 8 - Lindsey Stirling
02:25 In a nail-biting moment before the Halloween episode,
02:28 season 25 frontrunner Lindsey Stirling faced a terrifying setback.
02:32 "I came in early today so I could rehearse because I don't feel ready,
02:36 and I can't even rehearse because I'm in so much pain."
02:40 She had displaced a rib during the previous week's dress rehearsal,
02:44 casting uncertainty over her future in the competition.
02:46 Tearful and in pain, she feared it could be the end of her journey.
02:51 "I push, push, push all the time. That's how I've gotten to where I'm at,
02:55 but I'm just so afraid that I might have pushed too far."
02:58 Yet with partner Mark Ballas, she defied all the odds,
03:02 delivering a spellbinding passadoble brimming with drama and power.
03:05 Ballas didn't exactly hold back on the choreography either.
03:09 [Music]
03:17 We were astounded by her performance,
03:19 as were the judges who scored her nines across the board.
03:22 Still, we believe she deserved an extra point for pulling off such an awe-inspiring feat.
03:27 [Music]
03:32 Number 7 - Danica McKellar
03:34 During rehearsals for their Latin night routine,
03:37 the actress mentioned that she had injured her ribs while practicing a lift
03:40 for their contemporary routine a few weeks earlier.
03:43 "I had a lift in the contemporary routine in week three
03:46 that had injured my ribs a little bit, and I'd been dealing with that the whole time,
03:49 but I think it just got a lot worse."
03:50 The strain seemingly had taken its toll,
03:53 and during their salsa rehearsal, she heard a snap, later discovering she had a fracture.
03:58 Despite the pain, the actress and her dance partner Val Schmerkovski decided to perform.
04:03 [Music]
04:11 They delivered a fiery salsa full of speed, sass,
04:14 and given the circumstances, some impressive moves.
04:17 Her rhythm, flair, and determination to put on a show are incredibly impressive too.
04:22 Even with a fractured rib,
04:24 she continued her streak as one of the strongest performers in the contest.
04:28 [Music]
04:34 Number 6 - Lauren Alaina
04:36 In another Halloween number that took a spine-chilling turn,
04:39 Lauren Alaina and her partner Gleb Savchenko mesmerized the audience with their Argentine
04:43 tango, a dance demanding precision and sharp attack.
04:47 [Music]
04:54 Their near-flawless execution, coupled with a sultry and entrancing routine,
04:59 set the dance floor ablaze.
05:00 So imagine our surprise when the singer revealed she had broken a rib weeks earlier
05:05 and injured at least three others since.
05:07 "I cracked my first rib, like, after the first dance. The first week.
05:12 But this side's way worse, 'cause three of 'em."
05:16 They wowed the judges, earning a commendable score of 27 out of 30.
05:20 Carrie Ann Inaba even praised her core strength.
05:23 Given all she had overcome,
05:25 this performance was a delightful treat for everyone watching.
05:28 [Music]
05:34 Number 5 - Amy Purdy
05:36 Despite its typically slow tempo,
05:38 the deceptively tricky rumba features some movements that can feel unnatural to a non-dancer.
05:43 Indeed, during their sensual and stunning routine,
05:46 Purdy apparently maneuvered her body incorrectly, resulting in severe back pain.
05:50 [Applause]
05:58 As they rehearsed for their Argentine tango the following week,
06:01 it seemed dubious whether the para-snowboarder could get through the dance.
06:05 But if we didn't know,
06:06 we never could have guessed that she had been through a world of pain.
06:09 [Music]
06:17 Their dance is fierce and flawless, and rightfully earned them a perfect score.
06:21 [Music]
06:28 Purdy also shared that before their salsa,
06:30 the toes on her prosthetic legs had broken, and she was also dancing through a rib injury.
06:36 Number 4 - Cristian De La Fuente
06:39 In week 7, the actor and his partner Cheryl Burke brought the sizzle of
06:42 carnival to the Dancing with the Stars floor with a scorching samba.
06:46 However, De La Fuente sparked concern when he suddenly stopped and grabbed his arm.
06:50 [Music]
06:57 Although the trooper tried to push on, eventually it became clear they had to stop.
07:01 De La Fuente believed he'd had a bad muscle cramp,
07:04 and Tom Bergeron called for a commercial break so he could get treatment.
07:07 After receiving their scores,
07:13 De La Fuente was reportedly taken to the hospital,
07:16 and later underwent surgery for a tendon tear in his left bicep.
07:19 "Ideally, Cristian needs surgery right away,
07:22 but because the dancing is so important to him, we can hold this off for two or three weeks.
07:26 I don't want you to put any force on the bicep, but you're gonna still dance."
07:29 After some rest, he returned to the ballroom, securing a respectable third place overall.
07:35 Number 3 - Maria Menounos
07:38 The TV host dubbed herself "The Broken Dancer"
07:41 after suffering multiple injuries during her time in the competition.
07:44 "Feet are getting better, but they got a little worse this week."
07:47 But even after broken ribs, a foot fracture, and a chin injury,
07:50 this tenacious TV host made it to the semifinals.
07:54 She had seriously injured her ribs before the season's premiere but kept it quiet,
07:58 not wanting to be seen as "that couple" coming out of the gate.
08:01 [Music]
08:08 She even made light of her injuries,
08:10 joking that they might give her an advantage in the competition.
08:13 "Power of positive thinking. Mind over matter. Mind over ribs."
08:17 Still, imagine dancing the quick step with broken ribs.
08:20 The jumping and speed are enough to make anyone wince at the thought.
08:24 We hope the scores were worth it.
08:26 [Music]
08:33 Number 2 - Julianne Hough
08:35 In show business, the mantra "the show must go on" is sacred.
08:39 But sometimes, like in this case,
08:41 it's alright to hit pause and seek immediate medical attention.
08:44 [Music]
08:50 Picture this - the jitterbug, a dance bursting with lively moves and high energy kicks and tricks.
08:56 Now, imagine performing it through excruciating abdominal pain.
08:59 [Music]
09:05 That's exactly what happened to dancer Julianne Hough when she was paired with actor Cody Lindley.
09:10 Shortly after their encore performance of the routine,
09:13 Hough was taken to the hospital,
09:14 where she was diagnosed with endometriosis and underwent appendix removal.
09:18 "It took a few days to kind of figure it out,
09:20 but I was diagnosed with endometriosis and at the time had surgery
09:25 that my doctor recommended me getting, which is different for every woman."
09:30 Yet she was determined to be back by Lindley's side the following week.
09:33 "Are you okay to dance?"
09:35 "Yeah, I'll be fine to dance this week. It's fine. But we should probably get started."
09:39 We have to admire her resilience.
09:41 Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
09:45 Nancy McKeon - the former Facts of Life star
09:48 cha-cha-cha'd her way through her NYC-themed routine on a fractured foot.
09:52 [Music]
10:00 Katherine Jenkins - her back injury in the semifinals didn't stop her from fighting
10:04 for the mirror ball in the finals.
10:05 [Music]
10:12 Kaitlyn Bristow - an ankle injury left the Bachelorette stars dancing
10:15 with the stars' journey hanging in the balance, but she pushed through anyway.
10:19 [Music]
10:26 Jodie Sweetin - even a foot injury and doctor's
10:29 orders to rest up couldn't keep this actress off the dance floor.
10:32 [Music]
10:39 Holly Madison - after replacing singer Jewel, who withdrew due to injury,
10:43 the TV personality faced a rib injury ahead of her samba.
10:46 [Music]
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11:08 [Music]
11:09 Number 1. Jennifer Grey
11:11 Imagine you've reached the grand finale of Dancing with the Stars, the coveted
11:16 mirror ball trophy almost within reach. But then disaster strikes. A disc ruptures
11:21 in your lower back.
11:22 She needed a hospital visit after Monday's dances ruptured a disc in her
11:26 surgically restored spine.
11:28 Still, Grey insisted on fighting until the very end. Across two intense nights,
11:34 Grey and partner Derek Hough showcased their talents in a pas de deux bleu,
11:38 Viennese waltz, a cha-cha-cha relay, and a freestyle.
11:41 [Music]
11:49 With a doctor on standby, offering medical aid and checkups between dances,
11:53 Grey pushed on.
11:55 Viewers rallied behind her, leading to her victory. Reflecting on the
11:59 experience, Grey told ABC News,
12:01 Could you have kept going with any of these injuries? Let us know in the
12:16 comments.
12:17 [Music]
12:23 Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
12:27 And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
12:31 [Music]
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