Dancing with a Speed Skating Star
Is Apolo Anton Ohno god of the dance floor as well as the ice?
Apr 18, 2007
The judges asked him to be more sophisticated the week before he and his partner, Julianne Hough, turned in a great waltz. This week, they performed an incredibly sexy Samba to “I like to Move it.” A samba roll and technical footwork forced the judges and the audience to take notice.
The celebrity critics had a lot to say in response to the speed skater’s performance. Len Goodman, a veteran judge, said the couple had “it all” that night. The next judge, Bruno Tonioli said, “I think the nation has been stunned.” Judge Carrie Ann Inaba had one word for them: “Perfection.”
“We worked really really hard this week,” Apolo said. “Sometimes, when the judges give us their comments, we want to say something back… I try to take their comments constructively and apply them to next week’s dance.” His partner, however, is the one he says he’s trying to impress; evidently she’s a tougher coach than he’s used to. The two maintain there is no scandal to report about their relationship. (Although, it should be mentioned that she hails from Salt Lake City, nearby world-class skating training grounds. Apolo could consider relocating to skate and, um, dance too.)
Back to the Ballroom: Apolo and Julianne’s hard work this show season has paid off as the dancing duo earned the first 30 out of 30 points for the season. Perfect scores are nothing new to this professional competitor, but Dancing with the Stars judges have made Apolo work for each one of his 10’s. Apolo knew he’d need more than sex appeal to win at this game. Skating fans may have noticed sexy hip swivels and a sliding turn the skater made on the dance floor. The latter is certainly not a move his partner had to teach him. It is, after all, his day job to be light on his feet.
At the half-way point in the ball room dancing competition, Apolo is proving to be one of the favorites. The judges called him “the golden boy,” a color that matched not only his Olympic medals but his partner’s costume and hair. Apolo’s costume this particular night, however, was unremarkably annoying. Not only were his slacks and shirt black, but so were his high heels and headband.
What’s up with the headband anyway? A sweatband on the ice makes the statement: “I’m a strong, sweaty, manly skating machine. Get out of my way!” On the dance floor, a handkerchief says, well, absolutely nothing.
Theories abound as to why the skater can’t let go of his sports styling rut. Maybe the athlete doesn’t have a forehead. Maybe he’s hiding his male-pattern baldness with a toupee held on by the hanky. Maybe he’s covering a gigantic zit, gang symbol, or an offensive “I love Mom” tattoo t.v. producers insist he conceal.
To Apolo’s credit, he did ditch the headband in his waltz and Pulp Fiction routines to make himself look more like John Travolta. As far as his skating fans are concerned, Apolo’s been channeling Danny Zuko since he first burst on the junior sports scene.
After his first routine, he told the cameras: “I’m not even a dancer.” “Yes you are!” responded his perky partner as they exchanged high fives.
There’s was considered “the dance of the night,” on April 16, 2007, so they were asked to perform their routine for the results show. The second time around, Apolo showed even more upper body expression to match his quick feet. As the judges said, he definitely “dropped it like it’s hot.” Too bad he won’t do the same for his goatee.
Not surprisingly, Apolo and his partner weren’t eliminated this round, but they weren’t one of the viewer favorites either. You’d think more thirteen-year-old girls would be voting for him.
Hopefully speed skating fans will rally behind our front man as he brings more attention to our sport. Live audience member Florence Henderson gave him her vote, saying: “He’s one little hot number.” We know, Mrs. Brady. We know.
For more video clips of Apolo and his dance partner, and to play a fantasy dancing game, follow the links on ABC.com. Check back weekly as he dances closer to adding another trophy to his five Olympic medals. Find out how to get free tickets to Dancing with the Stars here.
