DWTS Dorothy Hamill Talks Of Ice Skating Career, Having Breast Cancer, and More
So, how many of you watched Dorothy Hamill win a gold medal in figure skating in Innsbruck, Austria in 1976? I was just in my teens at the time, but, I remember it well!! It’s legendary ice skaters like Dorothy for why I fell in love with the sport. She was unforgettable and it’s so good to see her again. I wish you could have seen my reaction when they announced her name on GMA! 
:) I was jumping for joy to say the least. Anyway, I’m curious to know how many of you remember Dorothy ice skating in the 70′s? No doubt she will bring that same kind of elegance, grace, and charm to Dancing With The Stars. However, did you know she had a recent scare with Breast Cancer? You can read more below in this take from the LA Times.
I know what breast cancer can do to a person’s life. You were diagnosed in 2007. What effect did it have on your skating?
When one gets that diagnosis, it’s devastating. I had a lumpectomy, and they took some lymph nodes. Then they had to go back in and take some more lymph nodes. I was in the middle of a tour and trying to perform. The radiation treatment just zapped any energy for at least a year and a half. I’m also on a drug called tamoxifen.
For a couple of years I didn’t feel like doing anything, but now that I’m feeling better I’m trying to be more active and eat healthy. I had to get back in shape for Stars on Ice. When I got the invitation, I realized I had a long way to go, and it was only two months out. It wasn’t enough to get back to full strength. It’s coming back now because of the tour. I’m definitely feeling stronger now.
To read more for how Dorothy is still skating and appearing in the latest run of Stars on Ice, visit the LA Times. You can see a beautiful picture of her there too. Speaking of….the picture above is from rehearsals for Dancing With The Stars yesterday courtesy of Dorothy’s twitter. Isn’t her little dog cute?!!!
ADDING: Below is Dorothy on Good Day LA this morning. She talks of how she is dancing and skating at the same time currently and the differences in both and lots more!
I Love her dog, so cute, my dream breed!
Love this team! I hope Dorothy and Tristan get the Foxtrot for their first dance to show off her beautiful lines.
count me among the Dorothy Hamill fans – I’ve been a fan of figure skating pretty much all my life – born and raised in Germany with Mom & Oma both huge fans (I’ve often thought that Katarina Witt would be a good fit for DWTS). I too was doing a happy dance when Dorothy’s name was announced (what an unexpected surprise), and almost did a cartwheel when she was paired with Tristan. Woo Hoo!
Yes, another woman of a certain age for Tristan – I think someone posted on another thread that he needs to finally get someone younger. While I don’t disagree – Nancy Grace, Gladys Knight, Pamela Anderson, Dorothy Hamill – all very well known women, several of whom could be described as American icons. I don’t know if they can dance their way to the MBT, but they’ll win our hearts for sure (IMO).
I agree Linde, that while not having young women, Tristan has benefited from (and conversely been a great pro for them so they benefited from having him) having very well known, and with Gladys and now Dorothy widely loved iconic women as partners.
I think they are both so quiet, humble and unassuming, I hope they are able to make enough of an impression among some outsized personalities. At the same time I think they’ll be smart to not try to outright compete with that and rather just play up their considerable strengths.
I too, was so excited to learn that she was on the cast and think Tristan is a great pro for her. How many days until the first show???
As much as I love these two, my fear is that they may come off as too wholesome, which is great, but I am not sure that they will be able to stand out enough among some of the other couples.
I just love Dorothy Hamill! I was just a kid but I certainly remember her from the 1976 Winter Olympics and winning the gold medal. That is when I started following figure skating. I agree that she exudes humbleness and grace. Pairing her with Tristan is just perfect. Good luck to them, I hope they do well.
I remember Peggy Fleming..that is when I fell in love with the sport and my daughter completed for a while locally until the money just became too much…Can’t wait to see her and Tristan.
I really hope Dorothy and Tristan go far this season. It’s such a warm, nostalgic feeling and goodwill when I remember her from when I was a kid and she’s just so darn nice as is Tristan.
Their wholesomeness, hopefully, will be what sets them apart from the others in a good way and not in a boring way. I can’t wait to see their packages and dancing.
I can’t believe I get Wynonna, Kellie and Dorothy Hamill on on the same show to vote for.
So excited!
I remember Dorothy’s skating career well. I think of her as the last of the elegant skaters…before the more athletic “jumpers” came along. I would expect her to excel in the traditional ballroom dances…but we’ll have to wait and see how she does with the Latin dances.
I remember watching Dorothy in Innsbruk in 1976 and can still picture her delight when when receiving her gold medal. I also hope this couple goes far and has fun.
@Linde – I agree about Katarina Witt being a good fit for DWTS. One of my wish list celebrities has always been Nadia Comonichi and her husband, Bart Connor. Olympic icons and fascinating back stories. TPTB are all about back stories.
If interested, see the first post again. Dorothy was on Good Day LA this morning.
I saw a video of her skating from january 2013, she still got it, she is in great shape, still very flexible and doing all those spins. I don’t think her age will be much of a issue, I really think she can go far or even win, she is older than Kristi but I can see she being a really good dancer, Jennifer grey was 50 when she won, so who knows really.
awwww, what’s not to like! Much as I rail on show’s producers sometimes, matching Dorothy with Tristan = perfect. It’ll be good when her commitment to her skating show is over; more time for dance.
Thanks, Vogue!
After a busy Friday at work, what a treat to come home to a story (+ video) on “America’s Sweetheart”. TPTB couldn’t have picked a better partner for her than Tristan. He’s the perfect gentleman and has an “old-fashioned” streak in him. They’ll be adorable together. Winning the MBT might not be in their future, but I hope the viewers fall in love with their wholesomeness and give them a good, solid run!
Gorilla Tom has a point about the Latin dances, but Dorothy might do alright with them. I’m hoping she doesn’t get sabotaged by having a bunch of non-ballroom styles like Bollywood, Contemporary, and Hip-Hop.
I too was a teen when Dorothy won her medal. Some friends got their hair cut like her too! Dorothy’s name being announced was so out of the blue yet so wonderful! I was squealing in delight! Tristan finally got a good one even if she is of that certain age! I can’t wait for the dancing to begin!
Oh dear… read the LA Times article, it said she’s still doing Stars on Ice? I hope she’s not trying to split time, ’cause we all know how that works out. I really want to see Dorothy and Tristan do well!
I too was but a wee teen when she won the Gold Medal at the Olympics and was beyond thrilled when she was announced on GMA. I’m glad Tristan is her partner..he’s just all kinds of adorable and I think Ms Hamill will be his best partner yet, despite her age. No doubt she’ll have incredible lines and do very well with the ballroom dances.