By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
OLD BRIDGE — Fresh off her Olympic success, Laurie Hernandez will exchange the floor exercise and balance beam for the dance floor.
Hernandez, 16, who earned a gold medal as part of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team as well as a silver medal for her individual performance on the balance beam during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August, was named one of 13 celebrity dancers cast for Season 23 of “Dancing with the Stars” that will premiere Sept. 12 on ABC.
The young Olympian will be teamed with Valentin Chmerkovskiy.
Her biography for “Dancing with the Stars” states that Hernandez is known for her dazzling floor exercise routine, where she has been nicknamed the “human emoji” for her outgoing facial expressions and for her grace and artistry on the balance beam.
The lineup of celebrity dancers also includes fellow Olympian swimmer Ryan Lochte, who created a media stir when he claimed that he and three other swimmers were robbed at gunpoint during the Rio Olympics. He will be paired with Cheryl Burke.
The other dancers are television icons, music legends, political figures and more who include Amber Rose, Calvin Johnson Jr., Jake T. Austin, James Hinchcliffe, Jana Kramer, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Marilu Henner, Maureen McCormick, Rick Perry, Terra Jolé and Vanilla Ice.
“Dancing with the Stars” is the hit series in which celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts. Tom Bergeron, Erin Andrews and Bruno Tonioli serve as the hosts to the show.
Contact Kathy Chang at [email protected].