Yahoo News BBC Strictly Come Dancing pro says 'let's speak the truth' as he shares celeb's horrific injury
Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe was quick to defend his celebrity partner Montell Douglas on the live show as he shared a horrific injury that still affects her. The duo had returned to the BBC dance floor for quarter finals week after ending up in the dance-off three times previously.
They were dancing the Rumba to a song from the musical The Colour Purple. After receiving mixed comments from the Strictly judges, Johannes was quick to speak up for the BBC Gladiators star.
He told host Claudia Winkleman: "Let's speak the truth today if you don't mind. My partner has got no ligaments in her ankles.
READ MORE: British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON, Octopus customers can get £179 off January price cap
Read more Strictly's Anton Du Beke's heartbreaking admission about wife's health condition
"So when I tell you to even achieve half of that, I am beside myself. Montell severely damaged her ankles after a horror injury which left her unable to walk for three months.
Back in 2009, the former British record holder for the 100m at 11.05 seconds tore cartilage in her knee which left her needing an operation. She was even warned by her surgeon she might never walk again.
"My greatest challenge came from when I had surgery on my knee," she told Sport For Champions. "Following the surgery, I had to relearn how to walk, which put me in a difficult situation. So many of the things I could once do were stripped away from me instantly. I overcame this by focussing on what I had. I had a great support structure and a strong belief that I would beat this and go on to compete again."
The judges were split on her Rumba, with Craig saying it was 'very slow' and 'lost a little bit of fluidity and ooze'.
He added: "I felt like we were getting snapshots of still pictures." But he did commend her on some 'aboslutely incredibly moments'.
Anton said he understood they had made a choice to be slow and emotional with the peformance. Ahead of taking to the floor, Montell revealed the impact being in the dance-off three times on her.
She said: "Being in the dance off for the third time, it's not easy to bounce back from that every time. It's like a little nick and a little chip and you're waiting for that cup to eventually break.
"Us coming into the studio and working so hard, it is tough to know that that every week might not be enough."
Johannes reassured his partner: "I want you to know that you belong here...you have come a long way and that is something to be proud of."
