Olympic gold medalist Rhys McClenaghan and his professional dance partner Laura Nolan have been crowned champions of Dancing with the Stars Ireland, securing the coveted Glitterball trophy in Sunday night’s grand finale on RTÉ.
Competing against three other celebrity couples, the 25-year-old gymnast from County Down looked visibly shocked as the announcement was made.
When asked about his win, McClenaghan was left nearly speechless, simply saying, “I don’t know, I don’t have any words.”
His parents, Tracy and Danny, were in the audience to witness the momentous victory.
The other finalists included Mrs. Brown’s Boys actor Danny O’Carroll with Salome Chachua, social media influencer Kayleigh Trappe with Ervinas Merfeldas, and Taekwondo athlete Jack Woolley with Alex Vladimirov.
Each couple performed two dances – a judges’ choice routine from a previous week and a show dance that combined different styles and techniques learned throughout the competition.
Rhys and Laura delivered a spectacular Charleston performance from movie week, where he reprised his role as Spider-Man.
For their final show dance, they captivated audiences with a routine set to Beautiful Things by Benson Boone, earning a perfect 40 points from the four judges in both performances.
However, their win was ultimately determined by a public vote.
Reflecting on his journey, McClenaghan expressed gratitude and personal growth, saying, “I feel amazing.
What a way to finish an incredible journey.
I feel like I’ve learned a lot about myself. One of those things being, embrace challenge, embrace fear.
I was terrified this whole season, but if you embrace it, you find out more about yourself and who you really are.”
Laura praised his dedication and resilience, calling him a “dream student” and thanking him for making the experience unforgettable.
Ahead of the finale, the duo visited McClenaghan’s home gym in Newtownards, where young gymnasts greeted them with excitement.
McClenaghan’s victory on Dancing with the Stars comes less than a year after he made history by winning Olympic gold on the pommel horse in Paris, proving his versatility extends beyond gymnastics and onto the dance floor.
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