Groovin' with Taliso Engel: 2025's Para-Swimming Social Star on "Let's Dance"
Dancer Taliso Engel battles with eight percent vision to dominate the dance scene - Blindness Impede, Yet Taliso Engel Triumphs on the Dancefloor with Eight Percent Vision
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Mark your calendars, party people! The new season of RTL's "Let's Dance" commences on February 21, 2025. Every Friday, we'll see well-known faces grace the dance floor with professional dance partners. This year, Motsi Mabuse, Joachim Llambi, and Jorge González are returning as judges. stern has graced us with a sneak peek of the contestants. Enter: Taliso Engel.
Portrait: Taliso Engel, Para-Swimming, Visionary Sensation
Born: June 4, 2002, in Lauf an der Pegnitz, BavariaResidence: NurembergRelationship Status: In a relationshipKnown for: His sporting triumphs and vibrant spirit
Glorious Accomplishments
Taliso Engel, born with a mere 4% vision in his right eye and 8% in his left, can perceive colors and general shapes but no fine details. He also lost his hearing in his right ear due to a middle ear infection. Yet, Engel reigns as one of Germany's leading para-swimmers, conquering events at European and World Championships and gold at the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics. He's even the current world record holder in the 100m breaststroke para-swimming event, with a time of 1:01.84 minutes[1].
The Dance Floorbeckons
Much like other contestants, Engel views "Let's Dance" as an exhilarating challenge. He admires the physical demands, which differ from his typical swimming experience. "I aim to learn a new sport, hopefully enhance my dancing, and create cherished memories," he declared before the show[4]. His debut on the dance floor has already stirred Joachim Llambi's fiery critique, comparing him to musical Goliath Dieter Bohlen in an RTL video[4]. Llambi playfully clapped back on Instagram: "If only Dieter Bohlen were judging 'Let's Dance.'"
Fun Facts:
- Taliso Engel has received the Silver Laurel Leaf, an award for extraordinary athletic achievements, twice[1]
- His world record in the 100m breaststroke is 1:01.84 minutes
- The dynamic 22-year-old is pursuing fitness training and management through distance learning[1]
Joining "Let's Dance" 2025:
- Jeanette Biedermann (44), musician
- selfiesandra (25), podcaster and influencer
- Marie Mouroum (32), stuntwoman
- Leyla Lahouar (28), reality TV star
- Paola Maria (31), content creator
- Christine Neubauer (62), actress
- Simone Thomalla (59), actress
- Roland Trettl (53), TV chef
- Osan Yaran (38), comedian
- Diego Pooth (21), golf pro
- Taliso Engel (22), Para-Swimmer
- Fabian Hambüchen (37), former professional athlete
- Marc Eggers (38), entertainer
- Ben Zucker (41), musician
stern belongs to RTL Germany.
[1] Enrichment Data: Overall, Taliso Engel, the Para-swimmer with congenital visual impairment, has showcased impressive performances on "Let's Dance." Notable highlights include:
- Liveshow 10: Engel and his partner Patricija Ionel garnered 24 points for their Jive routine to "Splish Splash" by Bobby Darin. The judges awarded them 8 points each[2][3].
- Gesamtwertung: Engel and Patricija Ionel notably scored a total of 37 points, combining Dance and jury challenge scores, placing them tied for first place with Marie Mouroum and Alexandru Ionel[3].
Engel's dance performances continue to receive acclaim from judges and viewers alike, as they demonstrate his tenacity and undeniable talent amidst his visual impairment. [2][2][3]
- Taliso Engel, the renowned para-swimmer, will be showcasing his skills on another platform as he joins the entertainment world by participating in the sports-entertainment show "Let's Dance" on RTL.
- In addition to swimming, Taliso Engel has expressed his interest in broadening his horizons by learning a new sport, dancing, and creating cherished memories on the show.
- Beyond his swimming achievements, Taliso Engel has impressed the judges with his debut on "Let's Dance," drawing comparisons to musical maestro Dieter Bohlen, demonstrating his potential in the world of basketball-like sports entertainment, such as the NBA, WNBA, and even NCAA basketball.
