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Dancing With the Stars Backstage: Dorothy Hamill on Her Decision to Leave the Show—and Her Pick to Win It All!

Exclusive! Legendary figure skater tells us she was up all night trying to make a decision

By Jenna Mullins Mar 27, 2013 5:26 PMTags
DOROTHY HAMILL, TRISTAN MACMANUS, DWTSABC/Adam Taylor

Last night on Dancing With the Stars, viewers did not get the same elimination show that we've grown accustomed to. Instead, Dorothy Hamill removed herself from the competition due to injuries that she said could be irreparable. Her stepping down meant that the others in the bottom three, Victor Ortiz and Lisa Vanderpump, were safe. At least for now.

When we talked with Hamill after her emotional goodbye to DWTS, she revealed what drove her to make the tough decision to leave the show.

"After [Monday's show], I really did some soul searching, and talked to my doctors a couple of times [Tuesday] morning," she tells us. "My spine surgeon said that it really wouldn't be smart for me to continue because the nerve problems I'm having right now could be permanent."

The legendary figure skater's choice to stop competing was not an idea that she came to easily. In fact, she lost sleep over it.

"I was awake all night long and [my husband] didn't know it, and he was awake all night long and I didn't know it," Hamill says. "But we both had a little bit of a talk, and he could see that I was in pain and struggling with it."

Even though she's not dancing anymore, Hamill will still be a part of the show as a spectator and a fan. She's even picked her favorites to win!

"Zendaya, of course. She's like, killer," she tells us. "Kellie [Pickler] and Derek [Hough], fabulous. They all are. I've really gotten to love Andy Dick. I feel as though I've known him my entire life."

Watch our exclusive interviews below to get reactions on Hamill's exit from the remaining DWTS contestants.

Watch: Dorothy Hamill Talks "DWTS" Departure

See more from this season's cast of DWTS on tonight's E! News at 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

—Reporting by Will Marfuggi