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It's going to be a showdown of Olympic proportions on the 200th episode of Dancing with the Stars, as Season 6 champ Kristi Yamaguchi and Season 4 winner Apolo Anton Ohno lead the top 6 pairs in a group dance face-off. "It's going to be fun and intense!" Yamaguchi, who won with Mark Ballas, tells TVGuide.com. "It's just an honor to be asked back for such a big celebration. I think a lot of us have incredible, positive, fun memories of our experience on the show, and to be able to play such a great part in such a big episode — I couldn't ask for more." So what's the former figure skater's plan of attack to take down her fellow Olympic gold medalist's team?Follow @DWTSTVGuide for all the latest Dancing news and scoop.TVGuide.com: How'd you pick your team? I'm assuming you chose Mark.Yamaguchi: Yes! We alternated with picks. Apolo won ...
It's going to be a showdown of Olympic proportions on the 200th episode of Dancing with the Stars, as Season 6 champ Kristi Yamaguchi and Season 4 winner Apolo Anton Ohno lead the top 6 pairs in a group dance face-off. "It's going to be fun and intense!" Yamaguchi, who won with Mark Ballas, tells TVGuide.com. "It's just an honor to be asked back for such a big celebration. I think a lot of us have incredible, positive, fun memories of our experience on the show, and to be able to play such a great part in such a big episode — I couldn't ask for more." So what's the former figure skater's plan of attack to take down her fellow Olympic gold medalist's team?
Follow @DWTS_TVGuide for all the latest Dancing news and scoop.
TVGuide.com: How'd you pick your team? I'm assuming you chose Mark.
Yamaguchi: Yes! We alternated with picks. Apolo won the coin toss, so he picked first and he picked Jennifer [Grey]. Then I knew I wanted Mark and Bristol [Palin], so I picked them. Apolo then picked Brandy and Maks [Chmerkovskiy]. I thought Rick [Fox] and Cheryl [Burke] had been doing great all season long, so they were my next pick. And then Apolo picked Kurt [Warner], and I got Kyle [Massey]. I love Kyle. He's such a great performer and I think that's going to bring a lot to the table, especially in the group dance.
Dancing's Kyle Massey adds an "interesting twist" to tango
TVGuide.com: What does your job as team captain entail?
Yamaguchi: well, no choreography! I'm trying to inspire and motivate them, like "This is what Mark and I was thinking during our dance and that's what inspired us, so hopefully you can channel that as well and go for it." And hopefully just bringing out the best of what each other them has.
TVGuide.com: What advice have you given them?
Yamaguchi: Of course for Bristol, it's, "Hey, you've got it! Be confident!" I want to see her break out of her shell and come out and just dance and enjoy it. She needs to let go, which is something I had to learn on the show, so I can identify with that. Kyle — I just want him to have fun and bring the house down. Rick — the cha-cha is a flirty and sexy dance, and I think he can bring all those elements. We've got a great song. It's high-energy and it's got attitude, and that's what I want from them.
Are you watching this week's Dancing? Tell us here
TVGuide.com: Do you think the cha-cha is a good choice?Dancing's Tony Dovolani: "People were rooting for me to get a good partner — and I got one"
TVGuide.com: Do you have any favorites? Are you biased toward Mark?Rick Fox Dancing without pants?
TVGuide.com: Apolo had two dances on the list. So you need to win this to even the score.