Former England footballer Karen Carney has given a revealing insight into her powerful partnership with Strictly Come Dancing professional Carlos Gu, detailing how their contrasting personalities created a dream pairing on the hit BBC show.
An Unlikely But Perfect Partnership
The duo, who impressed judges with their American Smooth last weekend, are preparing for Saturday's Blackpool special where they'll perform a passionate paso doble. Despite coming from completely different worlds, Carney acknowledges their partnership has been transformative.
"I couldn't have been paired with someone more opposite to me," Carney told The Athletic. "We were honest about that at the start, but it's a dream pairing because he's exactly what I need."
The football pundit explained that Gu has successfully pushed her beyond her comfort zone in a supportive environment, helping her grow both as a dancer and personally.
Overcoming Physical Challenges
One significant obstacle Carney faces is Scheuermann's disease, a rare spinal condition causing curvature that makes maintaining proper ballroom posture particularly challenging.
"It's a real physical challenge. Like, it's really, really hard," Carney revealed on the It Takes Two programme. "I have a posture aid."
Her professional partner Carlos Gu elaborated on the technical difficulties: "Her spine is curved in, so she can't fully open, not with her shoulder but her spine."
The physical demands haven't stopped Carney from giving her all, something that moved Gu to tears during last weekend's broadcast when judges praised their performance.
Emotional Moments and Blackpool Preparations
Gu became emotional on live television after their American Smooth received glowing feedback, telling viewers: "She worked so hard this week. I know ballroom is not her strength but she came into the ballroom and said, 'Carlos, I really want to try hard, but I know my back has problems and I really wanna try.'"
"Hearing the judges say that," he continued, tearing up. "You have no idea how hard she's been working."
This weekend's live performance at the iconic Tower Ballroom will feature a spectacular opening medley from pop group Steps, joined by Strictly professional dancers, celebrities and all four judges.
Other couples taking to the famous Blackpool floor include Doctor Who star Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe performing their couple's choice routine to History Repeating and Look At Me by Propellerheads featuring Dame Shirley Bassey and Geri Halliwell-Horner.
Social media personality George Clarke and Alexis Warr will salsa to Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now) by Bob Sinclair, while soap star Lewis Cope and Katya Jones perform the Charleston to I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor by Arctic Monkeys. Reality television star Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin will quickstep to Reach by S Club 7.
