Kristi Yamaguchi Picks a Winner

We’ve barely begun the fourth week of Dancing with the Stars Season 8, but Season 6 champ Kristi Yamaguchi has already picked her frontrunners, especially in light of all the Dancing injuries.

“The injuries aren’t surprising,” Yamaguchi said. “People don’t know how physical it gets. I think that’s one reason why athletes do well — they know how to listen to their bodies.”

That’s why she thinks gymnast Shawn Johnson, who’s paired with Yamaguchi’s former partner Mark Ballas, has a serious shot at the mirror disco ball.

“Shawn is focused and as an athlete, she is used to taking direction and easily coachable,” says Yamaguchi. “Mark is having a great time working with her and she’s got great potential.”

But Yamaguchi also sees stiff competition in Gilles Marini and Melissa Rycroft, who shared first place on the leader board with Johnson after last Monday’s dance. “I think the front-runners are Melissa, Gilles and Shawn,” she says. “Lil’ Kim and Chuck [Wicks] are dark horses.”

What about Ty Murray?

He’s quickly become our favorite. We love rooting for the underdog.

—Sasha Perl-Raver