Ezra Frech is approaching season 35 of Dancing With the Stars with the mindset of an athlete, but he is trying to stay focused on the competition one week at a time. The Paralympic gold medalist has consistently scored well on the show and has received strong support from fans, including young viewers who see themselves represented in his journey as an amputee.
Frech says that representing the disabled community is a central reason he agreed to join the series. He has previously watched disabled contestants including Amy Purdy, Daniel Durant and Noah Galloway compete on the program, and describes their appearances as meaningful examples of disability representation. The timing also suited his track and field schedule, since the season falls during his three-month off-season.
Although he continues to do some weightlifting, Frech is limiting additional training to avoid injury and is concentrating on dance rehearsals. Advice from Heinrich Popow, an amputee and former gold medalist who appeared on the German version of the show, helped shape that approach. Popow warned him that dancing would place substantial stress on his body.
Frech is partnered with professional dancer Daniella Karagach, while fellow gold medalist Amber Glenn is competing with Karagach’s husband, Pasha Pashkov. He says the arrangement has created a sense of collaboration between the two couples. Frech and Glenn have grown close during the competition and describe themselves as teammates while navigating the pressure of performing in front of the show’s large audience.
Fans have even joked online that Frech and Glenn should follow a Hunger Games-inspired plan and split the trophy. Frech says they are taking the competition one week at a time, while acknowledging that reaching the finale together would be special. The season’s finale is scheduled for Nov. 24.
A victory would carry particular significance for Frech because it would make him the first amputee to win Dancing With the Stars. He says the possibility would mean representing disabled people who he believes have not received enough visibility in mainstream media or inclusion in society. He also hopes his performances can slightly change viewers’ perceptions of disability.
The support from fans has become an important source of motivation. Frech says he regularly responds to videos from viewers with disabilities, including a child with a hand difference who watched him dance enthusiastically. He describes those moments as deeply moving and says they fuel his commitment to the competition.
For Disney Night, Frech and Karagach are scheduled to perform a samba to “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid. He says social media comparisons to Prince Eric, after he wore his hair slicked back, helped guide the pair toward the number. Frech identifies his week-two cha-cha as his favorite performance so far, while calling salsa the most difficult style he has learned before the upcoming samba.
Karagach’s advice to “trust the process” has also shaped Frech’s approach. He says their partnership has taught him to work hard, rely on the preparation and then perform with confidence. Asked to describe the season in one word, he calls it “electric.”
Beyond Dancing With the Stars, Frech remains involved with Angel City Sports, a nonprofit offering sports opportunities to people with physical disabilities in Southern California. He also says a second season of the documentary Adaptive is being filmed ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. DWTS airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the following day on Hulu.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter.