February 26, 2013
Aly Raisman joining ‘Dancing with the Stars’ cast
Follow JewishJournal.com on 
Alexandra Raisman of the U.S. competes in the women's gymnastics floor exercise final in the North Greenwich Arena during the Olympic Games on Aug. 7. Photo by REUTERS/Mike Blake
Aly Raisman, the Jewish gymnast who won three medals at last summer’s London Olympics, is joining the celebrity cast of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”
Raisman was among the cast revealed by “Good Morning America” on Tuesday for the show’s 16th season, which begins March 18. Others include former figure skating champion Dorothy Hamill, like Raisman an Olympic gold medalist.
Raisman rose to fame last summer with her gold medal in the floor routine performing to the Jewish classic "Hava Nagila," and in helping the U.S. women's team take the gold. The Massachusetts native also said she supported a moment of silence for the 11 Israeli Olympians who were killed at the Munich Games in 1972.
On “Dancing with the Stars,” Raisman will be partnered with professional dancer Mark Ballas. Other celebrities slated for the cast include Jacoby Jones, a wide receiver for the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens; country singers Wynonna Judd and Kellie Pickler; Zendaya Coleman of the Disney Channel; and Lisa Vanderpump, star of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”
