Source: ETAfter a thrilling sixth season, "Dancing with the Stars" crowned its new champion on Tuesday night. For the first time since season one, a woman was named queen of the dance floor -- Olympic gold medalist ice skater KRISTI YAMAGUCHI took home the mirror ball trophy!
The season finale opened with thoughts from the three finalists, Kristi, CRISTIAN DE LA FUENTE and JASON TAYLOR. Cristian, who tore a muscle in his bicep a few weeks ago during a routine and has danced with only one arm since, said the show made him realize: "In life, everything is possible if you really work hard for it." Jason said bashfully, "I feel like I've kind of, found a new me a little bit," and added jokingly that he'll dance in the future "for the right price."
After a performance by USHER, the contestant who had taken third place was announced, and it was Cristian.
The Latin heartthrob said upon learning the news, "I would never have the feeling of going to a final after an injury if it wasn't for [my partner] CHERYL and I staying in the competition."
Host TOM BERGERON gave him props for courage, saying that when he heard that Cristian would remain in the competition despite his injury: "I thought, 'He's nuts!' What I've realized is, you're pretty amazing."
After Cheryl and Cristian danced their final dance, the paso doble, it was time for all the former contestants of the season to take the floor. PENN TELLER and KYM JOHNSON; MONICA SELES and JONATHAN ROBERTS; STEVE GUTTENBERG and ANNA TREBUNSKAYA; ADAM CAROLLA and JULIANNE HOUGH; PRISCILLA PRESLEY and LOUIS VAN AMSTEL; MARLEE MATLIN and FABIAN SANCHEZ; MARIO and KARINA SMIRNOFF; SHANNON ELIZABETH and DEREK HOUGH; and MARISSA JARET WINOKUR and TONY DOVOLANI all danced in the order they were voted off. Members of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad also took the dance floor to present the trophy to BRANDON and BRITTANY, the winners of the Junior Champions competition, and Usher took the floor for a second time in the evening.
Then it was time for the final two's last dances. For Kristi and partner MARK BALLAS' final dance, they did the jive for their third perfect score of the finale: a 30. Judge LEN GOODMAN raved, "Well, I've got to say, Kristi, for me you are the most consistent dancer not only on this season, any season. You are fantastic!" Judge BRUNO TONIOLI also called her "the most consistent we've ever had," also crowing, "Another great achievement from the great achiever!" Judge CARRIE ANN INABA thanked her for "representing the ladies so well," and said that she and Mark had "set the standard for this competition from day one."
Jason and partner EDYTA SLIWINSKA's quick step gave Kristi and Mark a run for their money, also earning a perfect score of 30. Bruno told the pair, "Jason and Edyta, I think the term heavenly bodies has been calling for you. You move like angels. I think this was your best performance. I loved it." Carrie Ann said, "It's definitely a showdown tonight," continuing on to say, "[The] elegance of your spirit shines through when you dance." Len said, "Kristi may be the judges champion, [but] you're the people's champion."
But when it came down to the combined vote, it was Kristi who was named the champion! The ice skater who received the highest judges' scores of any contestant in "Dancing" history exclaimed, "This is just the icing on the cake," before thanking the fans and cast and crew of the show. Her partner Mark thanked Kristi and also thanked the cast and crew.
For his part, Jason took the news that he had come in second place well, saying, "I never ever thought I would get to this point. ... Kristi is so deserving. ... Like she said, everybody has been so fantastic, the whole cast and crew."
A thrilled Kristi and Mark were then presented with the coveted mirror ball trophy.
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