Natalie Coughlin rocks the Rumba

Olympic gold medalist Natalie Coughlin keeps on rolling at Dancing with the Stars. This week, she and partner Alec put together a steamy Rumba en route to a total score of 26. In addition to being a fan favorite, she’s become one of Carrie Ann Inaba’s picks as well.

Here’s Natalie’s segment from this week’s show for those who missed it:

Throughout the season, Natalie will be sharing her DWTS experience through her Twitter (@nataliecoughlin) and Facebook pages so be sure to follow along and VOTE for Natalie all season long.

Natalie and Alec’s official voting number is 1-800-VOTE4-13 or 1-800-868-3413. You may also vote online at www.abc.com starting from the opening of each episode on the East Coast and until 12:00 Noon, ET the following day.

Swimmer Natalie Coughlin among new “Dancing with the Stars” cast

Natalie Coughlin can do the backstroke and the breastroke in world record time, but can she do the paso doble or tango?

Coughlin, who has made a big splash in the Olympics, will attempt to excel in the ballroom during the upcoming season of ABC’s “DWTS.” She was among the 16 celebrities named to the “Dancing with the Stars” cast, as announced Monday morning. She’ll compete against former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay, pop singer Donny Osmond, and former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin.

Other hopefuls include singers Mya, Macy Gray and Aaron Carter; actors Melissa Joan Hart, Debi Mazar and Ashley Hamilton (son of George); models Joanna Krupa and Kathy Ireland; reality stars Kelly Osbourne and Mark Dacascos (”the Chairman” on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America”); mixed martial artist Chuck Liddell; and professional snowboarder Louie Vito.

The contestants were announced on Monday’s “Good Morning America” by “Dancing” host Tom Bergeron, who also unveiled a new competitive twist.

“In the middle of our season, over three weeks, we’re going to have double eliminations,” said Bergeron. “We’ll lose about half of our cast within that period. It will be a ballroom bloodbath.”

Coughlin  represented the United States at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. In 2008, she became the first American female athlete to win six medals in one Olympics.

After taking a break from swimming competition after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Coughlin will be extending that break with time logged on the dance floor. She appears to be in good company on “Dancing” as three Olympians have won the reality show’s coveted title. Speed-skater Apolo Anton Ohno captured the prize in Season 4, while figure skate Kristi Yamaguchi prevailed in Season 6 and gymnast Shawn Johnson won the disco-ball trophy in Season 8.

The ninth season of the hit ABC show premieres Sept. 21 with a three night event.

Update: Natalie will be paired with Alec Mazo on this season of DWTS.

Sabrina Bryan wants your workout video!

Think you’ve got the latest and greatest moves to get fit? Show them off in a new contest to promote physical activity!

Sabrina Bryan, of the Cheetah Girls and Dancing with the Stars ” has teamed up with The Alliance for a Healthier Generation to launch empowerME, a campaign challenging kids to make their own workout videos.

How to enter:

Record an original 3-5 minute workout or dance video starring you*

Include at least two of Sabrina’s top tips (found on the EmpowerME site)

Submit your video

For more information on The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the empowerME campaign and Sabrina Bryan’s video contest please visit www.empowerME2B.org.

So get up, grab a camera and get moving!

The top five finalists will receive autographed copies of Sabrina’s newest “Byou” DVD — and the winner will also receive a personalized video message from Sabrina!

Ouch: Misty May Treanor hurts ankle; out of DWTS?

October 6, 2008 – According to Access Hollywood, Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor’s “Dancing With the Stars” status is in question after suffering an injury on Friday.

“Misty May-Treanor sustained an injury on Friday and received immediate medical attention,” show producers told Access on Saturday in a statement. “Despite previous reports, she did not break her ankle. She is resting comfortably at home. Doctors will reevaluate her condition on Monday and determine the outcome of her participation on the show.”

Star Magazine reported that Misty broke her ankle cutting her out of the Dancing With the Stars competition completely.

The two-time beach volleyball Olympic champion suffered the injury on Friday afternoon when rehearsing with her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy at a dance studio in L.A.

She entered Cedars Sinai hospital in the late afternoon and was given a cast.

“I had problems with this ankle in March so I knew it was delicate, but I just can’t believe it broke and I am off the show now!” a devastated Misty told Star.

Since two Olympic gold medalists had previously won “Dancing with the Stars” Misty was an obvious pick to succeed this season.

She may not have been as fleet on the ballroom as she had been on the beach but she did have some consistent scores. Now her involvement in the show is up in the air.

On the official Dancing With The Stars message board, rumors are running rampant.  Some posters suggest Misty is definitely out of the competition, but ABC doesn’t want to confirm it, because they want people tuning in to the show tonight to find out.

Who will take Misty’s place if she is forced out of the competition?  One rumor suggests that Misty’s volleyball partner Kerri Walsh will be stepping in to dance with Maks though that seems unlikely.

Another rumor is that Kim Kardashian will be returning to the competition. If Kardashian does return, will she partner with Mark Ballas or switch partners and dance with Maksim Chmerkovskiy instead?

Guess we’ll just have to tune in to find out.  Whatever happens, we wish Misty a speedy recovery!

(Editors Note: Official word is that Misty ruptured her Achilles tendon rehearsing the jive (double ouch) and will need surgery and about nine months of physical rehabilitation.)

DWTS: Season 7 welcomes Misty May Treanor

August 25, 2008 – Now that the Olympics are over, let’s get back to REAL life. 

DWTS’ seventh season airs on Sept. 22 and what’s on everyones mind is:  Who will shake a leg on the award-winning reality show in hopes of winning the coveted mirror ball trophy?

Announced today, here’s a rundown of the Dancing with the Stars contestants and their professional dance partners:

• Singer Toni Braxton, 40, and Alec Mazo
• Singer Lance Bass, 29, and Lacey Schwimmer
• Actor Ted McGinley, 50, and Inna Brayer
• Actress Cloris Leachman,82, and Corky Ballas
• Warren Sapp, 35, and Kym Johnson
• Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito, 31, and Karina Smirnoff
• TV personality Kim Kardashian, 27, and Mark Ballas
• Track star Maurice Green, 34, and Cheryl Burke
• Beach volleyball star Misty May-Treanor, 31, and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
• Soap star Susan Lucci,61, and Tony Dovolani
• Comedian Jeffrey Ross, 42, and Edyta Sliwinska
• Actor Cody Linley, 18, and two-time DWTS champ Julianne Hough
• TV personality Brooke Burke, 36, and Derek Hough

Our fave? Beach volleyball player and recent Olympic gold medal winner Misty May-Treanor!  She’ll go straight from Beijing where she and Kerri Walsh won their second gold medal in beach volleyball to the DWTS comp where we hope she’ll follow in the footsteps of another Olympian – last year’s winner Kristi Yamaguchi.

Ladies Night at DWTS

May 21, 2008 – After four consecutive male winners on “Dancing With the Stars,” it was finally ladies’ night.

Figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi was named the new “Dancing” champ on the show’s season finale, becoming the first woman to win the ABC dance-off since its inaugural season. The Olympic gold medalist came into the final contest Tuesday with a perfect score and bested Jason Taylor and Cristian de la Fuente to claim the championship.

“This is definitely for all those women out there to continue to be strong,” she said after the show, hoisting the prize above her head.

The Olympic gold medalist was clearly the most talented dancer on this season’s competition, regularly landing atop the judges’ scoreboard.

Yamaguchi’s athletic background helped make her a winner, said judge Carrie Ann Inaba, because athletes know how to channel criticism into competition.

Pretty? Definitely! Tough? You bet! Yamaguchi’s got it all – including the mirrorball trophy.

You go, girl!

Dance, Dance with Kristi Yamaguchi

Have a bit of fun with our pick to win this cycle of “Dancing with the Stars” – figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi!