‘Dancing with the Stars 23’ spotlight: Will Ryan Lochte find redemption? Also, celebrating Cheryl Burke’s return
Going into this season of “Dancing with the Stars,” there’s no denying that Ryan Lochte is going to be someone frequently discussed. He’s one of the most famous (or infamous) athletes in recent memory, and he’s doing the show at a time when his reputation is at an all-time low. We know his selection is controversial, and that could lead to a very different result for him than he would have had if this was 2012 and he was doing the show.
In the end, we’re going to try to look in the spotlight below at all factors when it comes to Lochte and his appearance on this show this coming season, including what could work for him and some of the things that could impede his progress.
Claim to fame – 12-time Olympic medalist, and were it not for some extracurricular activities, we feel like his reputation would be that of one of the greatest athletes ever in his sport (of course behind Michael Phelps and a few others). Instead, Locthe has always had a flair for some controversy, whether it be a reality show or more recently an incident in Rio that led to questions and a police probe about whether or not his recounting of a “robbery” was truthful.
Partner – Cheryl Burke. She’s back! One of the most popular pros of the earlier seasons, she’s getting another chance to shine this fall. With Ryan, the challenge is mostly going to be trying to find a way to make him likable more so than a great dancer.
Strengths – Swimmers have incredible endurance, so in terms of training, Ryan has an instant advantage. He’s very athletic, super-competitive, and has a serious motivation to stay in this competition for a long time: He wants to have fun, and show America that he is more than their perception of him at the moment. Having Burke as a partner should help him to cultivate that.
Weaknesses – Unlike fellow contestant Laurie Hernandez and gymnastics, swimming probably doesn’t translate directly as well to the ballroom. We’re not sure how he will perform doing something a little more artistic in front of an audience, or something that allows him to be vulnerable.
As we mentioned, he’s also got the problem known as millions of viewers who may not be interested in voting for him. He’s gotta win them over.
Prediction – Ryan should start by realizing that there are some people who are just not going to like him. Yet, there are some willing to give him a chance. Just go out, have a good time, and try not to get into your own head. If he follows that advice, we think he could last for a little while and feel like he won even without the Mirrorball Trophy. We figure that this most likely will be out of reach.
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