Ezra Frech Eyes DWTS Mirrorball While Teaming Up With Amber Glenn
Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech says the “team” vibe with fellow athlete Amber Glenn fuels his DWTS run, and a win would be “really special.”
Season 35 and the Mirrorball Goal
Ezra Frech entered Dancing With the Stars with a clear aim: You can’t think too far ahead on a show like Dancing With the Stars. Anything could happen at any week, he told The Hollywood Reporter. Yet the Paralympic gold medalist acknowledges a “real chance” of walking away with the mirrorball trophy on the Nov. 24 finale.
Motivation and Fan Support
Frech says the “grounding, stabilizing force” behind his dance journey is the love and support from fans. He adds that his “motivation” for joining the show is to represent the disabled community and “all people with disabilities.” The athlete notes that younger viewers have responded strongly, seeing his amputee journey reflected on screen.
Team Dynamics with Amber Glenn
Frech is not the only Olympian on the floor; fellow gold‑medalist Amber Glenn is also competing. Their pairings with married professional dancers—Frech with Daniella Karagach and Glenn with Pasha Pashkov—prompted the show’s producers to label them “the sole athletes” of the season.
“This journey feels like we’re on the same team together,” Frech said of navigating the competition alongside Karagach, Glenn and Pashkov. “Amber and I are teammates in this.” When asked whether the mirrorball could end up in the Pashkov‑Karagach household, he declined to look too far ahead but admitted it “would be really special” if they all reached the finale.
Why DWTS Felt Like the Right Move
Frech has watched the series for years and cites past disability representation—Amy Purdy, Daniel Durant, Noah Galloway—as influential. “It’s always been something that was in the back of my mind as a dream,” he explained. The timing aligned with his off‑season, giving him three months between track and field commitments and the DWTS schedule.
Balancing Training and Dance
While still doing a bit of weightlifting, Frech follows advice from mentor Heinrich Popow, a former gold‑medalist and amputee who appeared on the German version of DWTS. Popow warned, “Be very careful how much work you do outside of the dance studio, because you’re going to be putting so much stress on your body. You don’t want to risk injury.” Consequently, Frech is “all in on dance” and keeping extra training minimal.
New Level of Exposure
Having already been in the public eye as an athlete and advocate, Frech notes that DWTS adds a “new level of exposure.” He did not elaborate further, focusing instead on the present competition and the support he receives from viewers.
