When "Dancing With The Stars" 2017 premieres Sept.18 on ABC with an all-new cast of celebrity characters, a Paralympic swimmer will bring her inspirational story to the ballroom, according to an Aug. 31 ET exclusive. Per the report, an unnamed source close to production revealed that ESPN personality Victoria Arlen will pair up with fan favorite Valentin Chmerkovskiy in the quest for the Mirrorball Trophy this fall. The report lines up with spoilers released by fan site PureDWTS that had Chmerkovskiy matched with a disabled partner during season 25.
Who is Victoria Arlen?
At the tender age of 11, Arlen found herself unable to speak, eat, walk, and move after receiving a pair of devastating diagnoses: acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and transverse myelitis. Although doctors gave her a grim prognosis and she spent four years unable to communicate or even move, she defied the odds and began the recovery process in 2010. She won four medals as a member of the US Paralympic swimming team that competed in London two years later, and in the spring of 2016, she learned how to walk again by sheer will and guidance from Project Walk. Arlen recalled the onset of her conditions as well as her recovery process in a stirring piece published to ESPN in May of 2016.
Victoria Arlen, now 22, will be the second Paralymic athlete to take part in a season of "Dancing with the Stars." The first was snowboarder Amy Purdy, who placed second with six-time Mirrorball Trophy winner Derek Hough at the close of season 18 in the spring of 2014. Other physically challenged competitors have included Noah Galloway and Heather Mills.
Val Chmerkovskiy reacts to his new 'DWTS' partner
After hearing of his season 25 match-up, Chmerkovskiy tweeted "I am so grateful. Thank you for my partner, thank you for this opportunity I can't wait for the world to see #DWTS." The 31-year old dancer has won two "DWTS" titles over his 12 seasons as a show pro -- the first with actress and model Rumer Willis, and more recently, with Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez -- and most recently placed third with Fifth Harmony's Normani Kordei at the close of the spring 2017 edition.
Chmerkovskiy and Arlen will go up against the confirmed pair of "Property Brothers" star Drew Scott and reigning "DWTS" pro champion Emma Slater and a host of other celebrity/professional pairs when the season begins Sept. 18 on ABC. To get a first glimpse of the entire "Dancing with the Stars" 2017 cast, watch "Good Morning America" on Sept. 6.
