"Dancing With The Stars" kicked off their 25th season on Monday night with one question on everyone's mind: will an athlete hold the Mirrorball Trophy in a few months? It seems like an athlete is either the winner or a finalist almost every year. Perhaps they have a predisposed advantage, with years of conditioning and athletic endeavors in their past. In Season 25, some of the favorites are once again athletes, so all of those actors and fellow celebrities better watch their backs.
This season's 'Dancing With the Stars' jocks
Four athletes are competing in this season's "Dancing With the Stars" competition.
WWE wrestler Nikki Bella is separating herself from her sister and competing with Artem Chigvintsev. Victoria Arlen is a sportscaster now, but she was once a Paralympic swimmer with an inspiring story. She'll be dancing with Val Chmerkovskiy. Former NBA player and coach Derek Fisher will be dancing with Sharna Burgess. Finally, former NFL star Terrell Owens will be teaming up with Cheryl Burke.
The athletes are in good hands concerning their partners. Burke won two of the first three seasons, one of which she competed with another former NFL star, Emmitt Smith. Burgess has been the runner-up in two of the past four seasons, one of which she competed with IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe. Chmerkovkiy is also a two-time winner, including one victory with Olympian Laurie Hernandez.
These "Dancing With the Stars" pros sure know how to make the athletes shine.
Athletes dominate 'Dancing With the Stars'
Back in 2006, Smith won the third season of "Dancing With the Stars." Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno, driver Helio Castroneves, and figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi quickly tacked on for a streak of four straight athlete victories.
Shawn Johnson became the next Olympian to win it all, which was followed a few seasons later by football receiver Hines Ward.
Two years after Ward's win, another receiver - Donald Driver - took home the Mirrorball Trophy. After that, however, there was a lengthy drought for the jocks. That was snapped by Hernandez two seasons ago.
Last year, running back Rashad Jennings made it two in a row for the athletes.
After one week, a pecking order has already formed. Surprisingly, no athletes are at the top of it. The best athlete score came from Nikki Bella, and her 20 point total was fourth among the competitors. Meanwhile, Terrell Owens had the second-worst score. At this rate, it may be a non-jock winner for Season 25 of "Dancing With the Stars."
