Emotional Moment on the Dance Floor
Professional dancer Carlos Gu was overcome with emotion during Saturday night's live broadcast of Strictly Come Dancing, breaking down in tears as he praised the immense effort of his celebrity partner, Karen Carney.
The poignant moment occurred after the pair performed an American Smooth to the song "You Don't Own Me" by Saygrace featuring G-Eazy. Despite a particularly difficult week of training, their routine earned unanimous praise from the judging panel.
A Triumph Over Physical Adversity
The judges specifically commended Carney for her significantly improved posture and back flexibility. This progress is especially remarkable given that the former football star lives with Scheuermann's disease, a spinal condition that causes a curved spine.
This condition makes it exceptionally challenging for her to achieve the open posture required for ballroom dances. Speaking previously on the companion show It Takes Two, Carney had been open about her struggles, calling it a "real physical challenge" and revealing she uses a posture aid to help train her muscles.
Gu, who has been coaching Carney for the past nine weeks, explained the physical reality to host Claudia Winkleman. "Her spine is curved in, so she can’t fully open, not with her shoulder but her spine," he said, his voice cracking with emotion.
A Testament to Hard Work and Resilience
It was this context that made the judges' positive feedback so powerful. "She worked so hard this week," a tearful Gu told Winkleman. "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.’"
He became increasingly emotional, adding, "Hearing the judges say that…. You have no idea how hard she’s been working."
Carney's determination is well-documented. Before her dancing endeavours, she had a storied football career, playing for clubs including Chelsea, Arsenal, and Birmingham City. She is England’s third most-capped player of all time, having competed at four World Cups and the 2012 London Olympics. Her services to football were recognised with an MBE in 2017 and an OBE in 2024.
This emotional episode on Strictly Come Dancing showcased not just a dance, but a powerful story of perseverance against physical odds, moving both the audience and her professional partner to tears.
