Carlos Gu has been making headlines this week, not just for his incredible dance skills but for the inspiring story behind them.
The 32-year-old professional dancer from Taiyuan, China, is on the brink of making history on Strictly Come Dancing.
Paired with former footballer Karen Carney, Carlos is the bookies’ favorite, with odds suggesting a 70% chance of victory this Saturday night.
If he triumphs, he’ll become the first openly gay and Asian professional dancer to lift the Glitterball Trophy.
Carlos’s rise to fame wasn’t handed to him overnight.
Before joining Strictly in 2022, he made a name for himself in his home country as the Chinese National Latin Champion, impressing audiences and judges alike.
But behind the accolades, Carlos’s personal journey has been far more complicated.
Growing Up in China: Finding His True Self
Speaking openly on Lorraine in July, Carlos reflected on the difficulties of growing up in China as a gay man.
“Being gay in China, it’s really hard to talk about it. You can’t tell a word on TV or in public,” he said.
The country’s strict social norms and lack of recognition for same-sex unions made self-expression a challenge.
Since moving to the UK, Carlos has found a new sense of freedom and identity.
“I feel like I have so much opportunity. I find so much nuance. Growing and nourishing myself to become… It feels like home,” he shared.
Without siblings due to China’s one-child policy, Carlos also spoke about the support of his mother, who encouraged him to chase his dreams despite the challenges.
Career Highlights: From Competitions to Strictly
Carlos’s career is filled with impressive achievements.
He finished third in the prestigious German Open Championship and was the UK’s Amateur Latin Rising Star Runner-Up in 2017.
His Strictly journey has seen highs and lows: paired with EastEnders star Molly Rainford in 2022, he finished second; with presenter Angela Scanlon in 2023, they placed sixth.
This year, paired with Karen Carney, the duo has dazzled audiences and reached the finals.
Karen Carney: From Football Pitch to Dance Floor
Karen Carney, 38, has had her own journey of resilience.
As a former professional footballer, she made 144 appearances for England and later worked as a pundit for TNT Sports and Sky Sports.
Yet, behind her sporting achievements, Karen has faced significant personal challenges, including Scheuermann’s disease, a spine condition she has managed since childhood, and mental health struggles stemming from injuries, depression, and past abuse.
Despite these obstacles, Karen has shown incredible determination on the dance floor.
Carlos praised her dedication after a challenging American Smooth, noting her hard work despite physical limitations.
“I know the ballroom is not her strength, but she came into the training room and said, ‘Carlos, I really want to try hard.’”
Overcoming Personal Challenges
Karen’s journey hasn’t been easy.
Beyond her physical health challenges, she battled depression and self-harm following a knee injury early in her football career.
Online abuse later intensified her struggles, pushing her to delete social media and even causing suicidal thoughts.
She described the experience as being “completely floored as a human.”
Her resilience, however, has inspired many fans, and her time on Strictly has brought her newfound confidence and a growing fanbase, with over 71,000 Instagram followers gained during the competition.
The Road to the Glitterball
With the competition narrowed to three final pairs—Karen Carney, Amber Davies, and George Clarke—tension is high as the finale approaches.
Karen’s odds of lifting the Glitterball Trophy are strong, and her journey alongside Carlos Gu has captured the hearts of both judges and viewers.
Carlos has shared that their final show dance will be to Texas’s “Inner Smile,” promising a performance that could cement their place in Strictly history.
A Moment of Triumph on the Horizon
For Carlos, success on Strictly would mark a historic milestone—not just for his career, but for representation as an openly gay and Asian professional dancer.
For Karen, it represents the culmination of years of perseverance, resilience, and hard work.
Together, they have transformed the dance floor into a space of courage, talent, and authenticity.
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