Lauren’s disability is secret weapon
STRICTLY paralympian Lauren Steadman’s disability is her secret weapon, her dance partner says.
AJ Pritchard reckons the pair are “thriving under pressure” and working twice as hard, which will pay off in the long run.
The professional dancer revealed he’s been suffering sleepless nights and anxiety over fears of dropping the 25-year-old triathlete during rehearsals and the shows.
AJ told how their routines were twice as difficult and dangerous as the other contestants due to Lauren only having one hand.
But despite the stresses, he believes it is an advantage. He said: “I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was more dangerous for Lauren. The routines are risky and lifts have been giving me anxiety and I haven’t been sleeping properly. There is no safety bar or back-up in case of a mistake.
“If something goes wrong she will hit the floor hard and with only one hand it’s a lot harder to stop your face smashing on to the ground.
“But I think it will be an advantage in the long run when people see what we are doing. I’m blown away by her. She is showing that the impossible is possible. What she’s achieving is sensational.”
Lauren, who won silver at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, feared she would get an early exit after stumbling on the first show. And AJ, 23, says Lauren’s biggest competition is herself because she is a “perfectionist”. He explained: “Because Lauren only has one hand I can’t hold her hand when dancing or use her hand to lift her up. “We have to change choreography a lot. But to find a way around it is more rewarding. We both thrive under pressure and are very competitive. Lauren is the biggest competition against herself at the moment because she is such a perfectionist.
“Lauren is an incredible partner. She makes me want to be a better person.”
Pro dancer Graziano Di Prima has also praised his partner, Vick Hope, 29, admitting the pair have real “chemistry”.
Graz, 24, whose girlfriend is part of the Strictly crew, said: “When I danced with Vick for the first time I felt we had a really good chemistry. I’m really happy about that.”
She is showing that the impossible is possible PRO DANCER AJ ON LAUREN’S PROGRESS