Blind dancer Taliso Engel, with only 8% vision, sets sights on lighting up dance floors.

Dancing Up a Storm: Taliso Engel Tackles 'Let's Dance' 2025 - Ready to Shine on the Dance Floor

🕒approximately 2 mins

Get your dancing shoes ready as RTL's hit show "Let's Dance" returns on February 21, 2025, featuring famous faces waltzing their way across the dancefloor every Friday night. Motsi Mabuse, Joachim Llambi, and Jorge González will once again grill the contestants with their insightful critiques. This year, say hello to Taliso Engel.

The Man Behind the Medals: Taliso Engel’s Story

Born: June 4, 2002, in Lauf an der Pegnitz, BavariaLives: NurembergRelationship Status: He's got someone specialKnown for: His unyielding spirit and athletic prowess

Taliso was born with a visual impairment, sporting just 4% vision in his right eye and an 8% maximum in his left. On top of this, a middle ear infection robbed him of his right ear's hearing. Despite these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Taliso has proven he's an unstoppable force, securing his place among Germany's elite para-swimmers. He's bagged medals at European and World Championships, taken gold at the Paralympics in Tokyo and Paris, and holds the world record for the 100-meter breaststroke para-swimming event with a blazing time of 1:01.84 minutes.

Why Does He Dance?

Like others competing on "Let's Dance," Taliso views the show as a thrilling challenge. The rigorous physical demands are a far cry from the world of swimming he's been accustomed to. With ambitious dreams to learn a new sport, perfect his dance moves, and create lasting memories, he's ready to hit the dancefloor with abandon. He's also had a taste of Joachim Llambi's tough love, earning comparisons to the infamous Dieter Bohlen during an RTL video. Llambi had his say on Instagram, claiming, "If Dieter Bohlen was on 'Let's Dance,' you'd be lucky."

A Few Fun Facts:

The 22-year-old Taliso has twice received the Silver Laurel Leaf, a prestigious German award honoring exceptional athletic accomplishments
In addition to his flashy swimming career, Taliso is blowing through coursework for a distance learning degree in fitness training and management
Watch out for this powerhouse on the dancefloor—he's one competitive swimmer with trophies and accolades to match

This Season’s "Let's Dance" Lineup:

Jeanette Biedermann (44), a musician with a heart of gold
selfiesandra (25), a podcast star who's taking the world by storm
Marie Mouroum (32), a stuntwoman who defies gravity
Leyla Lahouar (28), a reality TV sensation with sparkle in her eyes
Paola Maria (31), a vibrant content creator who's not afraid to take chances
Christine Neubauer (62), a seasoned actress who's made her mark on the small and big screens
Simone Thomalla (59), another actress who brings passion and fierceness to every role she plays
Roland Trettl (53), a renowned TV chef who'll be whipping up tasty moves on the dancefloor
Osan Yaran (38), a comedian with a zest for laughter and a routine to remember
Diego Pooth (21), a golf pro ready to tee up his career on the dancefloor
Taliso Engel (22), a para-swimmer who's prepared to plunge into the world of dance
Fabian Hambüchen (37), a former professional athlete flexing his moves once more
Marc Eggers (38), a versatile entertainer looking to wow the judges and audiences alike
Ben Zucker (41), a musician with the rhythm in his heart and the beats in his feet
Note from the editor: "The stern" is a valued part of RTL Germany

Taliso Engel, the para-swimmer who holds the world record for the 100-meter breaststroke para-swimming event and has earned medals at various European and World Championships, Paralympics, and Eurovision, is ready to dance on RTL's "Let's Dance" 2025, just like the dancers on the show. As a participant in the upcoming season, Taliso hopes to learn a new sport, perfect his dance moves, and create lasting memories, bringing his unyielding spirit and athletic prowess from the pool to the dancefloor.