Honestly, most people who tune into ballroom dance shows expect the athletes to be good, but nobody saw James Hinchcliffe coming. When Season 23 of Dancing with the Stars kicked off back in 2016, the "Mayor of Hinchtown" was basically a dark horse in a field of Olympic gold medalists and Hollywood royalty. He was a race car driver. He sat for a living. How was he supposed to compete with Laurie Hernandez?
But he did. Man, did he ever.
It wasn't just that he was "good for an athlete." James Hinchcliffe was actually, technically, one of the best male celebrities the show had ever seen. Even Julianne Hough, who doesn't exactly hand out compliments like candy, called him the best male dancer in the show’s history during his run. If you're wondering how a guy who spends his life at 220 mph managed to find grace on a dance floor, the story is actually a lot more intense than just "he had good rhythm."
The Miracle Before the Mirrorball
To understand why James Hinchcliffe on Dancing with the Stars was such a big deal, you have to look at what happened just 18 months before he stepped onto that stage. In May 2015, James almost died. It wasn't a "scary bump" into a wall; it was a catastrophic suspension failure during practice for the Indy 500. A piece of the car literally pierced his leg and hit his femoral artery. He lost massive amounts of blood. His pulse actually stopped on the way to the operating room.
The fact that he was walking was a miracle. The fact that he was competing on a high-intensity dance show was borderline impossible.
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He wasn't doing this for the fame, really. He told people he wanted to "change the narrative." He was tired of being the "guy who almost died in a crash." He wanted to be the guy who could pull off a flawless Foxtrot. Partnered with Sharna Burgess, he found a way to use his analytical racing brain to decode the ballroom.
Why James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess Were Magic
The chemistry between James and Sharna was electric, but it wasn't the "showmance" kind of vibe you usually see. It was more like two elite professionals speaking the same weird language. James treated dance rehearsals like he treated race data. He’d watch videos of himself, look at the angles of his feet, and treat every correction from Sharna like a mechanical tweak to a car.
The "Ricardo" Effect
James also had this weird, goofy charm that totally won over the audience. Remember "Ricardo"? During the Rumba rehearsals, he created this alter-ego—a suave, over-the-top Latin lover—to get over the awkwardness of the dance’s sensuality. It was hilarious. It showed he didn't take himself too seriously, which is the secret sauce for any DWTS contestant.
- Week 1: He came out with a Foxtrot that scored a 31. People were shocked.
- Week 4: His Quickstep to a Cirque du Soleil theme was when everyone realized he could actually win.
- Week 5: This was the "Most Memorable Year" night. He danced a contemporary piece about his crash. His surgeon, Dr. Timothy Pohlman, was in the audience. There wasn't a dry eye in the building.
One of the most impressive moments happened when Sharna got injured. Usually, when a pro goes down, the celebrity falters. Not James. He danced with Jenna Johnson for two weeks and didn't miss a single beat. He was the "anchor" of the partnership, which is almost unheard of for the celebrity amateur.
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The Finale Heartbreak
By the time the finale rolled around, it was basically a two-horse race between James and Laurie Hernandez. James’s freestyle was a masterpiece. Sharna choreographed it as a visual representation of his crash and recovery, with her acting as his "guardian angel." It was poetic. It earned a perfect 40.
But, as it often goes on DWTS, the Olympic darling took the trophy. James Hinchcliffe finished as the runner-up.
A lot of fans were gutted. Honestly, even today, if you go into the Dancing with the Stars subreddits or forums, people still argue that James was "robbed." He was a non-dancer who became a pro-level performer in eleven weeks. Laurie was an Olympic gymnast who already had world-class flexibility and performance training. It was a tough hill to climb.
What James Taught Us About Resilience
Watching James Hinchcliffe on Dancing with the Stars wasn't just about the glitter or the spray tans. It was a masterclass in how to rebuild a life. He went from a hospital bed where doctors were just hoping he'd survive, to the finale of a national dance competition.
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He proved that the "racing brain"—that hyper-focus and ability to process feedback at high speeds—is a transferable skill. He didn't just survive his crash; he used the show to process the trauma of it. He later said that the freestyle dance gave him "closure" he didn't know he needed.
If you’re looking to apply the "Hinchcliffe Method" to your own life or a new hobby, here are the takeaways:
- Be an analytical learner: Don't just do the reps. Watch the "tape." Look at what you're doing wrong and fix the specific mechanics.
- Use humor to bridge the gap: If something feels awkward (like a Rumba in front of millions), lean into the absurdity.
- Trust the expert: James let Sharna lead. He didn't let his ego as a "tough race car driver" get in the way of being a student.
- Change your own story: You don't have to be defined by the worst thing that ever happened to you.
James Hinchcliffe might not have the Mirrorball trophy on his mantel, but he definitely changed how people see IndyCar drivers. He's now a commentator for NBC Sports, and he still carries that "performer" energy into the broadcast booth. He's proof that sometimes, the runner-up is the one people remember the most.
To dive deeper into his journey, you can look up his "Most Memorable Year" contemporary dance on YouTube—just make sure you have some tissues handy. You can also follow his current work in the NTT IndyCar Series to see how that same precision and personality translate to the broadcast booth.