Ezra Frech, a 21-year-old Paralympic gold medalist and contestant on Dancing With the Stars Season 35, has topped the leaderboard for three consecutive weeks. In an interview with DECIDER, Frech attributes his success to his motivation in inspiring others like him through representation on the show. Born with congenital limb differences, he emphasizes his desire to showcase disability representation and encourage those who see themselves reflected in him to pursue their goals. Videos of children and adults with disabilities reacting positively to Frech’s performances have gone viral, reinforcing his belief that his dancing serves a greater purpose beyond personal achievement.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
After coming in at the top of the leaderboard three weeks in a row on Dancing With the Stars Season 35, some viewers at home may be wondering: What is Ezra Frech‘s secret sauce to success?
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sauce → come → success
Well, according to him, it’s all about his motivation.
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it → accord → motivation
Chatting with DECIDER ahead of Mariah Carey Night, the Paralympic gold medalist explained that on top of going out each week and dancing for himself and his partner, Daniella Karagach, it has everything to do with inspiring anyone and everyone who looks like him in the world.
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who → chat → world
Born with congenital limb difference, the 21-year-old is using his time on the ABC competition show to bring awareness to disability representation and to show people around the world just how much is possible.
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much → bear → world
“I feel like I’m really connected to my purpose — what I feel I was put on this earth to do — and that’s getting the opportunity to be the disability representation that I think we need as a society.
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we → feel → society
We know the importance of representation and disability is kind of that last frontier.
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importance → know → representation
It’s those videos that I see on social media of a little kid with a hand difference jumping up and down and watching me dance, or a little girl in a wheelchair, or someone who recently lost a leg and is watching me dance….
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me → ’ → leg
Maybe that motivates them just 5 percent more to get out of bed and go pursue something,” he explains.
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he → motivate → something
Since his debut on the show, videos and social media posts have gone mega viral as they show kids and adults with disabilities watching the Angel City Sports founder take on the tango, foxtrot, and cha-cha, seemingly with ease.
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founder → go → ease
And while Frech manages to make it look effortless, that is certainly not the case, as he says it’s a tremendous challenge on his body, but one that is worth it ten-fold to move the needle on the cause that he says is his life’s true purpose.
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he → manage → cause
Frech says, “Regardless of what I feel on a day-to-day basis, I know that I’m dancing for a bigger purpose this season, and that’s the most motivating part of all of it.”
Check out DECIDER’s full interview with Frech below.
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that → say → Frech
Ezra, you are absolutely killing it this season.
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you → kill → it
How are you feeling?
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you → feel → ?
It’s been quite surreal the last month or so, but it’s so much fun and I’m enjoying every second of it.
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I → ’ → it
I have to ask: I’ve seen some clips of your interview from Ellen making the rounds on social media. What do you think of those popping back up?
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those → ask → What
It’s so sweet.
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It → ’ → ?
It’s funny how so many things, interviews I forgot that I did when I was younger I’m now reminded of, because everyone reposts them.
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everyone → ’ → them
I was nine years old, I think.
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I → think → ?
I went back when I about 16 and had the best time.
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I → go → time
It’s crazy to see the clips.
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It → ’ → clips
All of the videos people make and all of the edits and it’s surreal.
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it → make → edits
What do you think you would say to nine-year-old Ezra if you could talk to him?
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you → think → him
I almost don’t know if I would say anything.
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I → know → anything
I don’t want to mess with the butterfly effect [laughs].
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I → want → effect
But I would definitely tell him that he’s on the right path and keep dreaming big.
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he → tell → path
I mean, I definitely would have never anticipated I’d be on Dancing with the Stars and sometimes you never know where life is gonna take you.
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life → mean → you
You seem like such a positive person; this is a show that challenges you in every way.
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that → seem → way
How do you deal with those moments of doubt and negativity?
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you → deal → doubt
That’s a good question.
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That → ’ → ?
I think it’s the people I’m dancing for.
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I → think → ?
I feel like I’m really connected to my purpose — what I feel I was put on this earth to do — and that’s getting the opportunity to be the disability representation that I think we need as a society.
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we → feel → society
We know the importance of representation and disability is kind of that last frontier.
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importance → know → representation
It’s those videos that I see on social media of a little kid with a hand difference jumping up and down and watching me dance, or a little girl in a wheelchair, or someone who recently lost a leg and is watching me dance.
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me → ’ → leg
Maybe that motivates them just 5 percent more to get out of bed and go pursue something.
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that → motivate → something
Regardless of what I feel on a day-to-day basis, I know that I’m dancing for a bigger purpose this season, and that’s the most motivating part of all of it.
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that → feel → it
What does it mean to see, not only from random strangers online, but also all of the people in the ballroom?
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it → mean → ballroom
It’s crazy.
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It → ’ → ?
First off, there’s something about the acoustics in there and the way that people are so excited to be there.
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people → ’ → acoustics
They’re all just die-hard fans.
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They → ’re → ?
And so that makes it so loud and so awesome.
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it → make → ?
…and 75 more, not listed.
The Aporia
