Dancing With The Stars has a new Olympian, Suni Lee!
On Thursday, August 26, DWTS announced the new cast during the Television Critics Association Panel. Along with Lee’s announcement, they also revealed that teen superstar JoJo Siwa will be competing. Siwa will become the first person to have a same-sex partner, as she came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community earlier this year.
Season 30 Details
The other thirteen celebrities competing this year will be announced on September 8 on Good Morning America. Tyra Banks will return as host of the ABC competition series. She famously replaced Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews in July 2020 for Season 29.
“I’ve been a fan of DWTS since its beginning,” Banks said in a statement last year. “The fun mixed with raw emotion, seeing celebrities push past their comfort zones, the sizzling dance performances. It’s always transported me to my days of turning it up 10 notches on the catwalk. Tom has set a powerful stage, and I’m excited to continue the legacy and put on my executive producer and hosting hats.”
Additionally, Dancing With The Stars judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough will return.
Last month, Suni Lee was able to secure three medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She took home the gold in the women’s all-around event. Additionally, she took home the bronze medal for the uneven bars. Finally, she competed in the team event along with Team USA who secured a silver medal. Furthermore, she became the first Hmong-American Olympian.
What’s next for Suni Lee? She will compete on the show before enrolling in college. Lee will be attending the University of Auburn and is undecided on a major.
Meanwhile, Dancing With The Stars will return on Monday, Sept. 20 at 8 PM ET on ABC.
‘Dancing With The Stars’ Former Gymnasts
Suni Lee won’t be the first Olympic gymnast to compete on Dancing With The Stars.
During Season 23, Laurie Hernandez, took home the mirror ball trophy in Season 23 in 2016. Hernandez planned on competing this year at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, she was injured during the United States Gymnastic Championships, therefore, being unable to compete at the United States gymnastics Olympic trials.
Previously, Simone Biles and Nastia Liukin also competed on the dancing competition show.
Just a week before the finals, Biles and her professional dance partner Sasha Farber were eliminated just a week before the finals. They received two perfect scores from judges and earned fourth place. The crowd and judges were stunned by the decision.
“We heard everyone, and I think everyone’s a little bit shocked,” Biles told E! in an interview. “Sometimes you don’t know [who is going to be eliminated].”
Biles noted that she has never danced in heels or with a guy before the competition. She believed that she has learned a lot and has a friendship with Farber for life.
