The first couple to go home as part of week three’s triple elimination during “Dancing with the Stars: Athletes” is Mirai Nagasu and partner Alan Bersten. Jennie Finch and Keo Motsepe and Chris Mazdzer and Witney Carson were also eliminated.
Tonight, the couple danced a dazzling quickstep to “Bo$$” and scored a 35 out of 40. She also went head to head with Adam Rippon in the dance-off round, but fell to her fellow Olympic figure skater. Last week, the couple danced a magical foxtrot to “It’s a Small World” and earned 37 points. During the premiere, they started off strong with a shimmering salsa to “No Excuses,” which received 23 out of 30 points. Ultimately, however, Nagasu fell just short of the finale.
Mirai Nagasu and Partner Alan Bersten Eliminated
Bersten has been a “Dancing with the Stars” pro for two seasons. He was paired with Debbie Gibson last season and danced in the troupe for several seasons before becoming a full-time pro. In other seasons, he also danced with several celebrities, including Paige VanZant and Heather Morris, while their pros were out with injuries.
Social Media Reacts to Mirai Nagasu and Partner Alan Bersten’s Elimination
How the heck did @mirai_nagasu get eliminated? 😮#DWTS
— Sue (@nygal33) May 15, 2018
how is Mirai not in the finale I am so offended #DWTS
— 💚jill💚 (@17Jcd) May 15, 2018
Mirai and Alan should've won or at least made final 2 and that's the tea #DWTS
— ☆ (@xFirstBadHabit) May 15, 2018
ARE YOU Fing KIDDING ME MIRAI IS ELIMINATED AND TONYA HARDING IS NOT. #thefixisin #DWTS
— Jess H (@TeamJFSA) May 15, 2018
y’all just eliminated @mirai_nagasu #DWTS pic.twitter.com/p05WPnFmG4
— Blair Waldorf (@pettyyonceh) May 15, 2018
Sorry @DancingABC, but whoever made the decision to make this a four week season, did a disservice to all these athletes. And Tonya over Mirai? You’ve GOT to be kidding. #DWTS
— ChicksDigScars #StandWith🇺🇦🌻 (@Chezhdchick) May 15, 2018
And sorry, but I’m not terribly disappointed that Mirai isn’t in the finale. Just never really gelled for me. #dwts
— Courtney (@putUincespence) May 15, 2018
What the hell, America. @mirai_nagasu 100% deserved to be in the finale. #DWTS
— Devin Orpurt (@ImDevinO) May 15, 2018
Absolutely shocked that @mirai_nagasu was voted off before the finale! It totally should’ve been a figure skating dance-off!! #DWTS
— Elkin Cabas (@nikle84) May 15, 2018
#DWTS Mirai deserved to be in the finale. pic.twitter.com/qg4KkIAAsl
— jenn ♡ (@hudsonlafferty) May 15, 2018
@mirai_nagasu @AlanBersten That was so wrong!! You definitely deserved to be in the finale. Thanks for your wonderful dances and fun personalities. #DWTS
— Amy Primeaux (@aprimo224) May 15, 2018
Tonya in over Mirai. There will never, ever be any justification for that. EVER. #DWTS
— Isobel Moody (@MsIsobel) May 15, 2018
Wow! Shocked & disappointed that Mirai didn’t make it to the final round. 😔 #DWTS
— Briana believes in love 💙 (@resendez_briana) May 15, 2018
@mirai_nagasu I’m so sad you came so close to taking it to the Finals, Mirai. But you did great the past weeks. 😭😭😭 #DWTS
— Paul Bacon (@PaulBacon30) May 15, 2018
@mirai_nagasu you were ROBBED. I'm upset. #DWTS pic.twitter.com/icCYu6MHGC
— Joseph Goncalves (@JosephG14) May 15, 2018
All these people complaining that Mirai didn’t make it. 🙄🙄🙄 This has never been a show for the best dancer, it’s been people’s favorite dancer and people obviously didn’t connect with Mirai. Say what you will, but for better or worse people are drawn to Tonya’s story. #DWTS
— Lauren H (@lmh311) May 15, 2018
I don’t understand a world where freaking Tonya went to the final and the amazing wonderful Mirai was voted off. #dwts
— beth✌️ (@betheartsu) May 15, 2018
Mirai has been eliminated :( Not fair! We are so proud of Mirai! She did great! #dwts #dancingwiththestars
— FigureSkatersOnline (@fsonline) May 15, 2018
Mirai and Alan were ROBBED!! #DWTS
— Perry Nelson (@perry_nelson) May 15, 2018
Nagasu is an Olympic figure skater. According to ABC, Nagasu “was one of the youngest competitors to win a national title in 2008 and remarkably has remained one of the top competitors in the world today. Mirai earned a spot to represent the U.S. in the 2018 Olympics at the age of 24, where she made history by becoming the first American woman to land a triple Axel in an Olympic Winter Games. She performed the difficult three-and-a-half revolution jump, helping Team USA win a bronze medal in the Olympic team event.”
“Dancing with the Stars: Athletes” is hosted by Tom Bergeron and sports broadcaster Erin Andrews. The judging panel is composed of ballroom experts Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. Their scores, along with America’s votes, determine who gets to stay and who is sent home as couples vie for the coveted Mirrorball trophy during the special, four-week season.
The finalists are Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon, NFL star Josh Norman and former figure skater Tonya Harding. The finale of this season’s all-athlete edition of “Dancing with the Stars” airs next Monday at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Do you think the right couple was sent home on “Dancing with the Stars: Athletes”? Sound off in the comments section below!
Photo credit: ABC