Vanessa Bauer, the professional skater on the ITV show Dancing on Ice, confirmed she had to withdraw from the competition due to severe injuries sustained backstage just hours before the live show. The 28-year-old skater, who was paired with former Love Island star Chris Taylor, shared the heartbreaking news on her social media platforms on February 2, describing her injury as "devastated" and emphasizing her disappointment.
Earlier, the couple had performed successfully, landing fourth place after scoring 30 points during movie week. Bauer took to Instagram to explain her situation, saying, "I'm here today with rather upsetting news. I am unfortunately not going to be able to continue on Dancing on Ice with Chris. That's really upsetting for me. I have trained Chris since October last year, and it is always such an amazing achievement for myself to see someone else progress so much in a skill they've never done before."
The injury happened during rehearsals, and Bauer explained, "I unfortunately had a little accident backstage last week on Dancing on Ice just before the live show on Sunday. I didn't realize how bad it was then, but we did an MRI and it turned out I have a completely torn ligament, grade three sprain injury and major grade two sprain injury."
She acknowledged the seriousness of her condition, stating, "I shouldn't be skating on an injury like this, and so I'm taking all of the advice from the medical professionals here; I am in very good hands." This injury not only jeopardized her ability to compete but also highlighted the importance of listening to one's body. "I’ve been skating this whole week with a lot of pain but didn’t realize it was such significant injury so I didn’t voice my pain," she noted. "It just goes to show you should listen to your body and try to tune it."
Bauer expressed her commitment to rehabilitation, emphasizing, "The sensible decision is to step away, do rehab, and focus on my health – I guess mental health as well – because it’s really bad for me to leave." Nevertheless, she remained optimistic about her recovery and future skating endeavors, saying, "I'm excited to get back to skating properly every single day."
Chris Taylor, her partner, expressed his heartbreak over her departure on his Instagram story, stating, "Very, very sad we don’t get to finish this together, but you've got an annoying brother for life now." This sentiment was echoed by many viewers and competitors who rallied to support Bauer, recognizing her dedication and spirit. One of the former contestants, Ferne McCann, also shared her support, tweeting, "Oh darling, devastating news for you. Health always come first; wishing you a speedy recovery."
Bauer's absence leaves Taylor with the challenge of competing without her guidance. ITV confirmed he will continue with professional skater Robin Johnstone as his new partner. Johnstone is no stranger to the show, having participated since 2013, which reassured fans about the change. Meanwhile, Bauer was grateful for the support she received and reflected on her eight years with the show, thanking her followers for their encouragement through her skating career.
This year’s season of Dancing on Ice has faced other challenges as well, with comedian Josh Jones also forced to withdraw due to injury. His ankle injury occurred during rehearsal, and he shared humorous comments about his struggles, highlighting the physical toll the show can take on contestants.
The seriousness of these injuries brings to light the risks associated with performance sports. Despite the glamorous appearance of figure skating on television, injuries can be all too common and serious.
Fans and spectators alike remain hopeful for both Bauer's quick recovery and Chris Taylor's continued success, as Dancing on Ice presses forward through yet another season filled with both triumphs and trials.