A Focus On the Finalists – James & Sharna (S23)

A Well-Deserved Focus On

Season 23’s Fabulous Finalists

– James & Sharna

Truly a Season that will be marked within the Ballroom’s history as one that was practically overflowing with incredible Talent, stunning Choreography, and fine Dancing, Season 23’s unique Finals was a rarely see phenomenon where any one of the Show’s 4 Finalists could have Won its highly sought after, glittering Mirror Ball Trophy and remained MORE than duly justified!

Certainly no exception to that expressed sentiment, James Hinchcliffe and his Professional Dance Partner, Sharna Burgess, will likely hereafter be remembered as one of the Shows all-time favorite Couples, and most successful Pairings, having amazingly managed to stand out - even among the fantastic Competitors such as this Season had to offer - and furthermore, having done so, with an almost effortless ability and the greatest of ease!

Here’s a look back at TeamStopAndGo’s spectacular Season:

James & Sharna

DWTS Season 23, Week 01

James & Sharna

DWTS Season 23, Week 02

James & Sharna

DWTS Season 23, Week 03

James & Sharna

DWTS Season 23, Week 04

James & Sharna

DWTS Season 23, Week 05

James & Sharna

DWTS Season 23, Week 06

James & Sharna

DWTS Season 23, Week 07

James & Jenna and Sharna

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

James & Sharna and Jenna

DWTS Season 23, Week 09

James & Sharna and Jenna

AND Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 09

James & Sharna

DWTS Season 23, Week 10

James & Sharna with Jenna

DWTS Season 23, Week 10

James & Sharna

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

James & Sharna Freestyle

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

James & Sharna 24hr Fusion

DWTS Season 23, Week 11
- The Finals

With James, undoubtedly, having been the Leading Man of Season 23 (aided, of course, with his Pro, Sharna’s BRILLIANT Choreography!), Dancing with the Star’s Head Judge, Len Goodman, unequivocally paid James the highest compliment and honor that either he or the Show and its integrity as a Formal Ballroom Competition - of which Len encapsulates and proudly represents - could bestow when he remarked, following James & Sharna’s 24-hour Fusion,

“I can say no more than this, I wish I could dance like you.”

Finishing in a MORE than well-deserved 2^nd Place overall, James disclosed of his time on the Show,

“It meant the world!  … I never would have thought at the start of all this that, you know, Sharna and I would be standing up here, finishing Second in this Competition!  Congrats to Laurie & Val – I mean, they were tremendous from Day One!”

Also taking a moment to thank his incredible Pro Partner and friend, Sharna (to whom he gave one of his most treasured possessions, the Racing Suite wore the day he got “Back in the Game”, following his terrible accident in 2015.), and others, James also added in closing,

“I’m so proud of her and the work that she put into making it look like I know how to dance!  … thank you to all of the TeamStopAndGo supporters, my family, Becky [Rebecca Dalton, his Girlfriend] … everybody!  It’s been a great time!”

A Focus On the Finalists – Calvin & Lindsay (S23)

A Well-Deserved Focus On

Season 23’s Fabulous Finalists

– Calvin & Lindsay

Truly a Season that will be marked within the Ballroom’s history as one that was practically overflowing with incredible Talent, stunning Choreography, and fine Dancing, Season 23’s unique Finals was a rarely see phenomenon where any one of the Show’s 4 Finalists could have Won its highly sought after, glittering Mirror Ball Trophy and remained MORE than duly justified!

One of the Season's - and, indeed, the Show's as a whole! - greatest surprises and most terrifically improved Competitors, this beloved Detroit’s Lions Receiver may have not quite roared the loudest when it came to the start of his trek across this Fall’s Dance Floor; but, it also didn’t take very long for Calvin to prove that, with a lot of hard work, a good attitude (some KILLER Choreography by your Pro, Lindsay Arnold!), and, of course, that winning smile, he too could become a king of the Ballroom!

Here’s a look back at TeamLindsatron’s spectacular Season:

Calvin & Lindsay
DWTS Season 23, Week 01

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 02

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 03

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 04

Calvin & Lindsay 

DWTS Season 23, Week 05

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 06

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 07

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 09

Calvin & Lindsay

AND James & Sharna and Jenna

DWTS Season 23, Week 09

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 10

Calvin & Lindsay with Witney

DWTS Season 23, Week 10

Calvin & Lindsay 

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

Calvin & Lindsay's Freestyle

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

Calvin & Lindsay 24hr Fusion

DWTS Season 23, Week 11
- The Finals

Perfectly expressing what has truly been an enormous pleasure in watching Calvin improve and perform, DWTS' Head Judge, Len Goodman, said, following Calvin & Lindsay’s fantastic Fusion wrap up of their Season,

“… Watching you just makes you feel good!  It’s like, Chicken Soup to the Eyes! … It’s a joyful experience … I just love watching you –You’re great!”

A Focus On the Finalists – Jana & Gleb (S23)

A Well-Deserved Focus On

Season 23’s Fabulous Finalists

– Jana & Gleb

Truly a Season that will be marked within the Ballroom’s history as one that was practically overflowing with incredible Talent, stunning Choreography, and fine Dancing, Season 23’s unique Finals were a rarely seen phenomenon where any one of the Show’s 4 Finalists could have Won its highly sought after, glittering Mirror Ball Trophy and remained MORE than duly justified!

Definitely an out-of-left-fielder, Jana Kramer opened up her fabulous Season on the Dance Floor as one of the very few to beat, heating up Week 01 with a sensual and elative take on a Ballroom Classic.

  

Noted for her rarely seen INSTANT chemistry with her Pro Partner, Gleb Savchenko, (whose consistently on-point Choreography throughout the Season proved the stuff that Finalists are made of!), as well as her always stunning elegant flow, and her feminine grace, that was strongly exhibited within all of her Performances, Jana exits this Fall's Competition an inarguable success, having well-deservedly taken her place among the Season’s elite and final Four!

Here’s a look back at TeamGlamer’s spectacular Season:

Jana & Gleb

DWTS Season 23, Week 01

Jana & Gleb

DWTS Season 23, Week 02

Jana & Gleb
DWTS Season 23, Week 03

Jana & Gleb

DWTS Season 23, Week 04

Jana & Gleb

DWTS Season 23, Week 05

Jana & Gleb

DWTS Season 23, Week 06

Jana & Gleb

DWTS Season 23, Week 07

Jana & Gleb

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Jana & Gleb

DWTS Season 23, Week 09

Jana & Gleb

AND Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 09

Jana & Gleb

DWTS Season 23, Week 10

Jana & Gleb with Alan

DWTS Season 23, Week 10

Jana & Gleb

DWTS Season 23, Week 11
- The Finals

Jana & Gleb Freestyle

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

Who Was In the Audience - S23, Wk11, Night 02

Who Was In the Audience – Season 23, Week 11, Night 02

Joe Gnoffo and Borne Odmark:  The Husband and Brother to Season 23’s amazing Semifinalist, Terra Jolé, Joe and Borne were back in DWTS' Ballroom to enjoy the evening’s Fabulous Finale!

Rumer Willis:

The Ballroom’s favorite Willis (Sorry, Bruce; but, we do LOVE your movies!), this <Ahem!>Dance-Hard, former Contestant and Season 20 Mirror Ball Champion (along with Pro, Valentin Chmerkovskiy!) could be seen once more in the Ballroom, cheering on her former Partner and enjoying the Night’s Festivities!

L-R:  Helio Castroneves
and Rumer Willis

Rebecca Dalton:

Girlfriend to James Hinchcliffe, Rebecca has lovingly shown up most every Week to support her beau, finally able to proudly cheer him on in Season 23’s Grand Finale!

Rebecca Dalton

Alfonso Ribeiro and Angela Unkrich:

This Mirror Ball Champion for Season 19 (along with Pro, Witney Carson!), Alfonso, and his Wife, Angela, were yet again spotted among DWTS' live, Ballroom audience, clearly enjoying themselves and Season 23’s remaining Finalists!

Alfonso Ribeiro and Angela Unkrich

Rikki Lake:

Hey, it’s Rikki!  This former Season 13, 3^rd Place Finalist (along with 6-time Mirror Ball Champion Pro, Derek Hough!) was excitingly caught seated ring-side for Season 23’s biggest Night!

Helio Castroneves:

Season 05’s Mirror Ball Winner (along with Former, 2-time Mirror Ball Pro, Julianne Hough!) was present once more in the Ballroom’s live audience to cheer on his fellow Indy Car Racer and Season 23 Front runner, James Hinchliffe, in his final <Ahem!> race to the show’s glittering Mirror Ball Trophy!

L-R:  Helio Castroneves
and Rumer Willis

Arica Johnson and Brittany McNorton:

The Mother and Wife to Season 23’s Football Finalist, Calvin Johnson, Jr., Arica and Brittany were present in the Glitter Dome (along with Calvin’s young Son) to cheer on their favorite Grid Iron Great!

Anthony, Wanda, Jelysa, and Marcus Hernandez: 

The Parents, Sister, and Brother to Season 23’s newest and youngest Champion, Laurie Hernandez, was seen cheering on unabashedly, as Laurie and her Pro Partner, Val, took home the Show’s glittering – and so very hard-earned! – Mirror Ball Trophy!

DWTS Season 23's Champion,
Laurie Hernandez,' Family -
  Anthony, Wanda, Jelysa, and Marcus Hernandez

And the WINNERS Are …

DWTS, Season 23 

Crowns Its Newest

Mirror Ball Champions!!

DWTS Season 23 Champions,
Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy!

Dancing with the Stars has crowned its newest, Season 23, Mirror Ball Champions, Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy!!

DWTS Season 23 Champions,
Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy!

DWTS Season 23 Champions,
Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy!

DWTS Season 23 Champions,
Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy!

A much more than gratifying and exciting outcome for the Show, to say the least, this most recent addition to the Glitter Dome's long and distinctive list of Mirror Ball Champs can be said to have come with little surprise, despite the fact that this latest installment of ABC’s highly popular, biannual Dance Program certainly had MORE than its fair share of possible Trophy Winners!

The Vault to Success!

Front-Runners from the start, the Olympic Gold Medal-winning Gymnast, Laurie, and her Pro Partner, Val, kicked off this Fall’s Ballroom Competition with a BANG, tying as one of only two to take Week 01’s Highest Score in Judges' Points!

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 01

Only gaining momentum from there, the Weeks flew by – as did the amazing Dances! – while each and every new Performance by what soon became Season 23’s Dynamite Duo effectively lit up the Ballroom, thrilling both Audiences and the DWTS Judges alike!

Taking home the very first Perfect Score of all “10”s in Judges Points for Week 04 of the Show, Laurie & Val then continued on to cap off this, their fantastic dancing venture, with the highest Judges Score Average of the Season!

American Sweetie!

Quickly and aptly dubbed by the Show as being America’s Sweetheart, Laurie’s bubbly personality, unaffected charms, and infectious smile – both on AND off the Studio’s Dance Floor – having been consistently combined with a fierce competitiveness and laser-like focus and attention to detail, made for a potent – and even KILLER – Combo, as patrons of the Reality Show couldn’t help but get caught up in Hernandez’s American drive and need to succeed!

History is Made!

At only 16 years of age, Laurie proudly takes home DWTS' glittering and hard-earned Mirror Ball Trophy as The Youngest Winner in the History of the Show, beating out fellow Olympic Gold Medal-winning Gymnast and DWTS Darling, Shawn Johnson, who took home the Trophy at age 17 for Season 08 of the Show, along with her Pro, Mark Ballas.

Keeping It ALL in the Family!

As a current Member of U.S.A.’s Olympic Gold Medalists Team, “The Final Five” – America’s consistent and highly successful elite grouping of Female Gymnasts (Also previously dubbed as being “The Fab Five” and “The Fierce Five”) – Laurie’s recent victory within the Ballroom has irrefutably proven that it really DOES take one to know one, as her dethroning of S08's Shawn Johnson presents several, striking similarities!

• Shawn is also a Member of the U.S. Fab, Fierce and Final “Five” (now Retired), taking home Gold and Silver for this Country during the 2008 Summer Olympics.

• Previous to Laurie's incredible Win on Monday Night, Shawn has long held the proud distinction of reigning as DWTS' youngest Champion, winning the Mirror Ball at age 17.  (Season 21’s Bindi Irwin also won at age 17, along with her Pro, 6-time Mirror Ball Winner, Derek Hough, but just missed beating out Shawn’s Record by a mere 3 Days, according to DWTS, S21 Wikipedia.)  An even further coincidence – both Shawn AND Laurie’s Pro Dancers, Mark Ballas and Valentin Chmerkovskiy, have now Won Twice, with both Second Wins having occurred with each of the Gymnasts, respectively.

• Capping off their list of amazing distinctions, Laurie Hernandez and Shawn Johnson mark the ONLY Olympic Gymnasts to have ultimately triumphed within the Glitter Dome.  Coming out with a bang and finishing with a bang (as was aptly phrased by DWTS Judge, Julianne Hough, during the last episode of the Season), Laurie’s TERRIFIC and history-making time in the Ballroom is not likely to be soon forgotten by the Show and its viewers.  Her explosive run cemented her as a true success, as she has now OFFICIALLY taken her place among the Glitter Dome’s Greats!

A Look Back.

Taking a brief yet invigorating “Dance” through this last Season, we are once again reminded of what made DWTS' newest Champion so deserving and brilliant!

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 01

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 02

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 03

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 04

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 05

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 06

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 07

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 09

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 10

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

Laurie & Val Freestyle

DWTS Season 23, Week 11
- The Finals

Laurie & Val 24hr Fusion

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

“I’m just so excited that I was able to have this opportunity and even be on the Show,”

DWTS Season 23 Champions,
Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy!

The Young Mirror Ball Champion has expressed of her emotions to ET, following her Win.

“ ’Cause, I feel like I really sprouted as a person, and I’ve surrounded myself with so many amazing people that I can now call Family!”

When asked just where Laurie might be keeping her newest Trophy – having already both a Gold and a Silver Medal within this year’s Summer Olympics – the grinning Teen, whose long ago stated goal from the get-go had been to qualify and compete within the 2016 Olympics, and immediately follow it up by joining the next Cast of DWTS (A Television Show dearly beloved by herself and her Family), enthusiastically shared,

“… Probably, like, in the middle of my house!”Adds Hernandez, as an endearing afterthought,“As long as my Mom's okay with it!”

Watch video (below) to see the new Champions of Dancing With The Stars, Laurie & Val receive the much sought after and hard earned Mirror Ball Trophy!  Courtesy of Dancing With The Stars' great YouTube channel!