Ezra Frech is trading the athletics track for the ballroom floor. The two-time Paralympic gold medalist is joining Dancing With the Stars Season 35, bringing one of the most inspiring sporting stories in the cast to the competition.
Frech will compete with professional dancer Daniella Karagach as he takes on a completely different kind of challenge. Known for his achievements in para athletics, the Los Angeles athlete has already competed on the biggest international stage. Now, he will have to learn choreography, ballroom technique and performance skills while competing against actors, musicians, athletes and reality stars.
Ezra Frech’s Paralympic Journey
Frech arrives on Dancing With the Stars with an impressive résumé. At the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, he won gold medals in both the T63 100-meter and high jump events. He also finished fifth in the long jump, adding to a career that has already made him one of the recognizable young stars of American para athletics.
His rise started early. Frech represented Team USA internationally as a teenager and competed at the Tokyo Paralympic Games at just 16 years old. Before that, he had already established himself as a promising athlete, eventually becoming a world champion and world-record holder.
His sporting success has also allowed him to become an advocate for adaptive sports. Frech co-founded Angel City Sports, an organization that helps athletes with disabilities participate in sports and competition. He has also worked as a mentor for young athletes, particularly people learning to run with an above-knee amputation.
From the Track to the Ballroom
Dancing With the Stars will test Frech in ways that athletics does not. Track and field demands speed, strength, balance and precision, but ballroom dancing requires those qualities to be combined with timing, musicality and communication with a partner.
That makes his pairing with Daniella Karagach particularly important. Karagach is an experienced professional on the show, and she will help Frech translate his athletic ability into choreography that works for the ballroom.
Frech has spent years learning how to adapt movement to his body and compete at an elite level. That experience could become an important part of his story on the show, but the competition will still require him to master unfamiliar dance styles in a short period of time.
| Detail | Ezra Frech |
|---|---|
| Competition | Dancing With the Stars Season 35 |
| Professional partner | Daniella Karagach |
| Paralympic achievement | Two gold medals at Paris 2024 |
A Season Packed With Big Names
Frech is entering a particularly busy season of Dancing With the Stars. Season 35 features 16 celebrity contestants from entertainment, sports, music, television and social media.
The cast includes Jenna Dewan, Julia Stiles, Harry Shum Jr., Tatyana Ali, Tyler Cameron, Giada De Laurentiis and Taylor Hanson. Olympic figure skating champion Amber Glenn is also competing, giving the season another high-profile connection to elite sport.
The variety of backgrounds should make Frech’s journey especially interesting. Unlike contestants who already have professional performance experience, he is entering the ballroom from the world of para athletics, where the objective is measured in seconds, distances and heights.
When Does Ezra Frech Compete?
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 began with a two-night premiere on September 15 and 16. The new season is airing on ABC and Disney+, with episodes also becoming available on Hulu after the live broadcasts.
The premiere format gives viewers an early look at the new celebrity-professional partnerships before the competition settles into its regular weekly schedule. Frech’s performances will be closely watched as fans see how quickly the Paralympic champion can adapt to ballroom dancing.
For Frech, the challenge is about more than simply learning steps. Every performance gives him another opportunity to show viewers a different side of his personality beyond the medals and records that have defined his athletic career.
Why Ezra Frech’s DWTS Debut Matters
Frech’s appearance also puts adaptive sports and disability representation in front of a massive television audience. His career has already focused on changing perceptions about what athletes with disabilities can accomplish, and Dancing With the Stars gives him another platform to do that.
The ballroom will present a very different test from the Paralympic arena, but Frech has built his career around adapting to challenges. Whether he becomes a serious contender or simply discovers a new passion, his Season 35 journey gives viewers a chance to see the gold medalist outside his usual sporting environment.
The most intriguing question now is how quickly an elite para athlete can become a confident ballroom performer. With Daniella Karagach beside him and the pressure of live competition ahead, Frech’s transition from the track to the dance floor is one of the season’s stories to watch.
FAQ
Who is Ezra Frech’s Dancing With the Stars partner?
Ezra Frech is partnered with professional dancer Daniella Karagach for Dancing With the Stars Season 35.
How many Paralympic gold medals has Ezra Frech won?
Frech has won two Paralympic gold medals. He earned both at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games in the T63 100-meter and high jump events.
When did Dancing With the Stars Season 35 premiere?
Season 35 premiered with a two-night event on September 15 and 16, 2026, on ABC and Disney+.