'Dancing With the Stars' 2016 Cast: Would Ryan Lochte Have Been Eliminated If Not For America? [VIDEO]
Ryan Lochte's Dancing With the Stars partner admitted this week that they probably wouldn't be in the competition still if it weren't for America.
Lochte has made it all the way to the Final 7 on Dancing With the Stars, despite receiving relatively average scores from the judges up until this point. Cheryl Burke, his pro dancing partner, revealed this week in her People blog that they wouldn't be in the competition at this point if the results were based solely on judges' scores.
"I'm also just so thankful that everyone is giving Ryan a second chance. I feel like there is no way we would be here based solely on the judges' scores, so I am so thankful that the viewers are making my first season back so special," she wrote. "I hope they continue to feel we're worthy of their votes."
Burke also admitted that there are times during rehearsals where things can get emotional, with some worry about whether or not they will be able to dance by Monday.
"Every week is a roller coaster," she wrote. "Every Tuesday or Wednesday, as we start rehearsals, you can feel defeated. I think everyone has a moment where they think, 'I don't know if I can do this.' But you sleep on it, go back in there the next day and things start to come together."
And it doesn't help that Lochte has an Olympic swimming background, as Burke argued, because he expects excellence.
"Because Ryan is an Olympian, he quickly jumps to being hard on himself. But I work with him on not getting frustrated. He gets it eventually - it just takes time," she wrote.
It remains to be seen if Lochte's time is running out or if he can extend his popularity with America all the way to the finals next month.
Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.
Watch Lochte and Burke's latest individual dance here:
