Dancing with the Stars: Athletes premiered with a jam-packed performance show and the elimination of two couples during Monday night's episode of Season 26 on ABC.
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Jamie and Johnny were the first two celebrities ousted from the competition based on the combination of Dancing with the Stars judges' scores and home viewer votes they had received live during the broadcast.
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The show's judges are Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman, and the episode featured real-time voting for fans at home.
The other couple in jeopardy of elimination was disgraced Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding and partner Sasha Farber; however, they were not necessarily one of the bottom-three couples this week based on the judges' scores and America's votes.
Monday night's broadcast featured each of the 10 professional athletes and their partners taking the stage for the first time with a salsa, Viennese waltz, cha cha, or foxtrot routine.
Two pairs topped the judging leaderboard in first place: NFL star Josh Norman and partner Sharna Burgess tied with Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon and partner Jenna Johnson.
Both Josh and Adam danced the cha cha with their respective pro partners and received 24 points each from the judges.
Two couples also tied for third place on the leaderboard at 23 points. Tonya and Sasha, who danced the foxtrot, tied with Olympic figure skater Mirai Nagasu and partner Alan Bersten, who performed the salsa.
Tonya received a standing ovation from everyone in the ballroom following her first performance on Dancing with the Stars, and such a reaction left her feeling humbled, grateful and emotional.
"I got banned in 1994 from skating, but nobody can tell me I can't dance," Tonya said in a clip of backstage footage that played before she took the stage with Sasha.
Fifth place also represented a tie between two athletes and their partners. Olympic luger Chris Mazdzer and partner Witney Carson received the same score of 21 points as Olympic softball player Jennie Finch and partner Keo Motsepe.
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Chris and Witney performed the salsa, while Jennie and Keo danced the foxtrot.
Female college basketball hero Arike Ogunbowale and partner Gleb Savchenko finished the night in seventh place on the judges' leaderboard with 20 points after performing the salsa.
And Jamie and Artem placed eighth on the leaderboard with 19 points after taking the stage with a lovely Viennese waltz.
On Jamie and Artem's heels were Johnny -- a two-time World Series champion -- and Emma, who earned themselves 18 points from the judges and therefore landed in ninth place on the leaderboard. Johnny and Emma danced the foxtrot during the premiere.
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And although they finished the night in tenth -- and last -- place with only 17 points from the judges, NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and partner Lindsay Arnold survived elimination. Kareem and Lindsay performed the cha cha on Dancing with the Stars.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
