On Monday night’s edition of Dancing with the Stars: Athletes, it was triple elimination time as this was the series semi-final episode! Why? Remember, this special competition was only slated for a four-week run. So, that means next week is the finale there will be three teams vying for the Mirror Ball Trophy amidst their athletic prowess and attempting to fine-tune their ballroom dance skills.

It was Olympic figure skater, Adam Rippon’s night, who along with his dance partner, Jenna Johnson delivered a contemporary dance routine that was dizzyingly intricate with artistic impressions and high marks that would surely follow. Adam and Jenna scored the highest point total of the night with 39 out of 40.

Josh Norman and his partner Sharna Burgess also danced a contemporary number with some tricky steps involved, and they scored a 36 out of 40. Could he be the sleeper winner of the competition?

As for Tonya Harding and her partner, Sasha Farber, in what was also an emotional night in the ballroom with “MVP” as the theme, the athletes would name their biggest hero. Many gave it to their moms, especially following Mother’s Day. However, for Harding, she says her “MVP” was her late dad, and then she and Farber performed a rumba in his honor. Most of the dance, Tonya was in tears, but yet she pulled off the dance in a successful way earning 33 out of 40 from the judges.

After the individual dances, the six remaining pairs competed in “Ballroom Battles” in which two teams at the same time, perform a dance of one style. When the smoke cleared the following duos were sent packing: Jennie Finch and dance partner, Keo Motsepo, Chris Mazdzer and partner Witney Carson, and Mirai Nagasu and pro, Alan Bersten

So, who will win the Mirror Ball Trophy now: Rippon, Harding, or Norman? Watch Adam and Tonya’s performances below, and then weigh-in via the comment section below!

In the second week of competition on Dancing with the Stars: Athletes, two more superstars were sent packing!

When all was said and done, following a great quickstep by Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon and pro dancer Jenna Johnson, and a technically proficient routine by one of Adam’s besties, Mira Nags, who performed the foxtrot with her partner, Alan Bersten, three couples were put in jeopardy!

Those were Chris Marzder and dance partner Witney Carson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his partner Lindsay Arnold, and college basketball star Arike Ogunbowale and pro Gleb Savchenko

It was Jabbar, with that dazzling charisma and all that was just a bit too clunky and out of step performing the Salsa, which led to his low score and being eliminated. And then Ogunbowale was all shown the front ballroom dance floor door as the other athlete eliminated. Looks like this season’s basketball stars just aren’t cutting the mustard.

Tonya Harding, while last week facing elimination was safe scoring a 33 out of 40 for her quickstep routine with partner, Sasha Farber.

So, what did you think of Kareem being eliminated? Who do you think has the best shot who is still in the running of taking home the Mirror Ball Trophy? Comment below, but first watch Kareem’s performance from Monday night’s episode after the jump, before weighing-in!

Photo credit: Courtesy/ABC

On Dancing with the Stars: Athletes Edition premiere episode it was all about Tonya Harding’s debut on the ballroom dance competition and how she would handle the pressure of dancing in such a huge public forum that had critics checking it out. Many wondered would she bungle her chances and self-implode as she had done before in the Olympics decades earlier.

Since so many athletes have won Mirror Ball trophies in the past, it was a natural fit to do an all athletes edition of DTWTS, but this one is going to be a quick foxtrot and quickstep as it is only four weeks long, and on the season opener two couples were already sent packing.

The most shocking, and it was not warranted, is that when it came down to which couples were in jeopardy, Harding and her dance partner, Sasha Farber, were one of the three couples in the bottom three.

Tonya actually did a nice job during her foxtrot! She brought a shocking grace and to each movement, and performed an extremely difficult floor spin. The judges loved her performance as she and Sasha scored 23 out of 30.

DANCING WITH THE STARS: ATHLETES – “Episode 2601” – ADAM RIPPON, JENNA JOHNSON. Photo credit: Courtesy/ABC

Also impressive was, of course, Olympic figure skater, Adam Rippon who Cha-Cha’d his way through a great routine with his dance partner, Jenna Johnson. The chemistry between this two is undeniable, something these two acknowledged as well. Look no further than this dup for plenty of hip action and stellar choreography. Adam and Jenna received a 24 out of 30 from the judges.

In the end, Jamie Anderson and her partner Artem Chigvintsev and baseball great
Johnny Damon and dance favorite Emma Slater has their exit!

So, which athlete do you think has the best chance of taking the prize still left in the running with their pro ballroom dance partners? Kareem Abdul Jabber, Josh Norman, Arike Ogunbowale, Mirai Nagasu, Keo Motsepe, Chris Mazdzer, Gleb Savchenko, Rippon or Harding? Comment below!

But first check out Tonya and Sasha’s and Adam’s and Jenna’s clip package and first dance in the competition from the premiere of DWTS: Athletes Edition.