Olympian Breaks Ground With Same-Sex Partner On Polish ‘Dancing With The Stars’
Silver medalist Katarzyna Zillmann takes on a new stage as part of the show’s first female same-sex duo.
Featured image via ‘Dancing with the Stars Poland‘
This season of Dancing with the Stars Poland has introduced something never before seen on the show: a same-sex female pair. Olympic rower Katarzyna Zillmann is competing alongside professional dancer Janja Lesar, marking a first for the Polish edition of the long-running program.
Zillmann, who won a silver medal in rowing at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, has been publicly open about her sexuality since that time. After the medal ceremony in Tokyo, she thanked her girlfriend on live television and later explained that she wanted her visibility to help others. “I know that in this way I will help others,” she said. “It was enough that I showed up in a T-shirt with the words ‘Sport against homophobia’ and I got a few messages from young girls practicing rowing.”
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On Instagram, Zillmann shared her enthusiasm for this new chapter. Posting a clip of her and Lesar dancing together, she wrote: “I feel like I have been training up to this moment all my life 😀 I feel emotions comparable to winning a World Championships medal. I’m happy that, with the great @janja_lesar we can create a female-female representation for you in the mainstream!”
Their partnership comes at a time of gradual change in Poland. Earlier this year, the last of the country’s “LGBT-free” zones was abolished, six years after such declarations began appearing. Against that backdrop, the sight of two women competing together on one of Poland’s most popular entertainment shows is a notable moment for representation.
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Lesar, a seasoned dancer with years of experience on the show, has provided guidance to celebrities across multiple seasons. Together with Zillmann, she is now part of a pairing that is not only competing for the trophy but also expanding the visibility of same-sex partnerships on mainstream Polish television.
For Zillmann, who once described earlier media silence around her coming out by saying, “I’ve already talked about it in interviews before, but for some reason, it wasn’t published,” this latest step adds to her role as one of the country’s most recognized queer athletes.
Catch a glimpse of their energy and connection in these rehearsal clips and live dances:
