“Dancing with the Stars” Recap: Olympian Nastia Liukin Eliminated

ABC(LOS ANGELES) — After finishing the first night of the semifinals with a perfect score and tied for first place, Olympian Nastia Liukin and five-time mirror ball champion Derek Hough were voted off ABC’s Dancing with the Stars Tuesday, just one week shy of the season 20 finale.

Liukin, 25, has performed well during the nine weeks of competition, consistently earning judges’ scores that have placed her at or near the top of the leaderboard.

She has danced some routines with pro dancer Sasha Farber since Hough sustained an injury going into the seventh week of the season, and was tied for first place on the leaderboard Monday night after earning perfect scores from the judges for her quickstep with Farber and her Viennese Waltz with Hough.

Hough and Liukin hugged when they learned their fate, and Liukin smiled as she talked with co-host Tom Bergeron.

“I definitely wanted to make it to the finale, especially because last night was so great to be able to dance with Derek again, but, you know I kind of thought last night was a magical night,” she said, referring to the Viennese Waltz coached by head judge Len Goodman. “To be able to finish my experience with that dance meant a lot.”

Elimination in the competition is based on a combination of judges’ scores and viewers’ votes.

This is the ninth week of the season. Actress Rumer Willis, Army veteran Noah Galloway, and R5 band member Riker Lynch will advance to the finals on Monday.

Galloway, a double amputee who has impressed the judges and fans with his determination, finished fourth on the leaderboard Monday night. Willis — a favorite of the judges and fans and who is especially adept at the classic ballroom styles of dance — was third. Lynch, who has impressed the judges with his flair and technical ability, was tied with Liukin for first place.

Tuesday’s show featured performances from the cast of Teen Beach 2 and rapper Flo Rida.

The Dancing with the Stars finals will air Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern time on ABC.


Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.