Nastia Liukin says no to 'Dancing with the Stars' 2009

keri · #1 (**permalink**) 03-22-2009, 05:08 AM

Shawn Johnson is doing great on Dancing with the Stars this season. Nastia Liukin was asked to do the show as well but said no; she is getting for Worlds 2009, which has no team competition this year, only individual events:

Quote:

[Shannon] Miller also has a combined 16 world and Olympic medals. Liukin's combined total is 14 after her five Olympic medals in Beijing. But for the 19-year-old who is also taking some college courses while fulfilling duties for new sponsors such as Vanilla Star Jeans, BCBGMaxAzria and Covergirl makeup, competition is still in her blood.

"I love doing everything I've gotten to do," Liukin said. "I got to act a little on 'Gossip Girl,' I've gotten a chance to do modeling work, it's just been a lot of amazing opportunities. But I was really excited to get back in the gym too. I'm working on new routines and I think I have some good gymnastics left in me.

"It's just a matter of figuring out how to do everything."

Liukin said she considered the opportunity to be on "Dancing With the Stars" but realized that if she did the show now there would not be the chance to compete in the major gymnastics meets of 2009.

"It wasn't doable," she said. Liukin also noted that two participants scheduled to be on this season's show have already been injured and that beach volleyball Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor was injured during last fall's show.

"Nastia Liukin stays focused on competing"

Actually, this year there were 2 injuries at Dancing with the Stars even before the competition show began.

It will be interesting to check out Nastia's new bars routine!

Shawn will probably compete at the 2009 World Championsips too - she is used to practicing less than everyone with her 24 hours/week of practice vs. 40+ hours most other elite gymnasts do!

brenna · #2 (**permalink**) 03-22-2009, 07:30 AM

I thought Dancing with the Stars asked Nastia too! It is a lot of practice time they do.

You can read about Shawn's experience on Dancing with the Stars directly from Shawn on her blog, on her official website (www.shawnjohnson.net). Here is what she wrote after the 2nd week of competition (last week):

[quote]
[B][URL="http://www.shawnjohnson.dreamhosters.com/?p=95"][COLOR=#810081]DWTS - week 2

fliptwist · #3 (**permalink**) 03-23-2009, 11:24 PM

Good choice for Nastia, DWTS takes a lot of practice time and it is also not worth the injury risk for her when she really wants to compete and compete to win and is training new routines. And then there would be another ballerina on the show besides Melissa Rycroft (from Bachelor) - who also was a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader - Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders do have lots of dance experience/practice.

Anybody who has watched that reality series on them knows that!

'Dancing' Backlash: More 'Stars' Slam Melissa's Dancing Background

Quote:

Professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy sparked the debate prior to Week 2 of the hit ABC show, telling TVGuide.com it was "unfair" Melissa was allowed to compete with her background in ballet and as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.

When given the opportunity to backtrack on his comments, Maksim stood strong in his stance.

"Let me be that voice of everybody who thinks [it] but won't say it," Maks told Access.
...
"I'm not going to say anything about it being unfair, but compared to everybody else, there is a huge difference in ability," Julianne Hough told Access.
..
"Well, I would love to say to Maks, 'How about Mel?'" Tony said, referring to Maksim's partner from Season 5, former Spice Girl Mel B. "That's all I'm going to say."
...
"It really just depends on what American wants to see. Do they want to see a non-dancer become a dancer, or do they want to see a dancer dance?" Derek noted.

...
"Does she have dance training? Of course. But it doesn't matter if the people love what she does," he concluded. "You know, Mazel Tov to her, as we say."

kayla · #4 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 05:53 AM

Nastia busy with other things besides gym too:

Quote:

"I'm a little frustrated because of all the travel,'' she said. "I want to get back to where I was. I'll be back for a few weeks and think I'm progressing and then be gone from a Sunday to Wednesday.

"I'm busy every weekend from now to mid-April. I'm trying to stay in shape, but it's hard with so many obligations.''

Karolyi Team Camp:

Quote:

She did make it to one of the January national team training camps at the Karolyi Ranch outside Houston. That appearance left national team coordinator Martha Karolyi impressed by the attitude Liukin brought.

"She was the first to do all the little exercises, warm-up exercises, everything,'' Karolyi said. "She didn't think even the smallest thing was beneath her. This is the spirit she showed to the others.''

Gymnastics not yet out of fashion for Liukin

Nastia was at the March camp too.

SportsGuru2010 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-15-2010, 03:52 AM

Nastia Liukin is a personality of high stature as far as I know from daily sports news and sports magazine viewpoint. Here is the latest piece of information about this enthralling personality: JCPenney's "New Look. New Year. Who Knew!" Back-to-School Campaign Features Cutting Edge, Creative Marketing Aimed at Teens - MarketWatch

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Gymnast Nastia Liukin Goes for Gold (Fox News)	gymrss	Gymnastics News & Blogs	0	08-14-2008 03:02 PM
Get Tips and Training Advice from Nastia Liukin and other Ol	ngt826	Gymnastics Videos	0	05-01-2008 03:09 PM
Nastia Liukin Videos	fliptwist	Gymnastics Videos	1	03-12-2008 06:58 PM
Photo of the Week - Nastia Liukin	gymrss	Gymnastics News & Blogs	0	12-05-2007 06:47 PM
Nastia Liukin - a day in the life of Nastia Liukin	miley	Gymnastics Videos	2	03-05-2007 02:28 AM