On Tuesday night's episode of "Dancing With The Stars," the couple with the lowest score were supposed to get the boot. Surprisingly, Victor Ortiz and reality TV personality Lisa Vanderpump, the bottom team, were not eliminated. Instead, legendary Olympic figure skater Dorothy Hamill was the first celebrity to go home from the first elimination episode of the sixteenth season. However, the 56-year-old ice skater's exit had nothing to do with viewer votes. Instead, Hamill, citing a spinal cyst injury and urgent medical recommendations, chose to leave the competition.
"I have an injury that could be irreparable, and nerve damage, and it would be completely unfair for me to stay in this and have any of these people go home," explained the Chicago-born althlete. "I can't do what I need to and, you know, the rest of life is physical, as an athlete, is important."
Hamill, who won the 1976 Olympic champion in ladies' singles and the 1976 World champion, added, "I wish I could give it my all, but I can't," she said. "It's been a wonderful ride."
Hamill and partner Tristan MacManus' departures mean the bottom two couples are safe, and will dance again during on Monday's prom-themed episode.
The hit ABC reality series opened its sixteen season last week with 17.1 million viewers, down just 9 percent from last spring's premiere of 18.8 million viewers. It also beat out last fall's weak All-Stars edition premiere by 21 percent.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
