TV CHAOS: DWTS and The Traitors are ‘battling it out’ to hire 5 favorite Olympians for their next seasons

PRODUCERS of Dancing With the Stars and The Traitors will be ‘battling it out’ to snatch up this year’s biggest fan-favorite Olympians for their next TV seasons, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.

The athletes have barely stepped off the podium but Hollywood is already circling to snag the biggest names that just finished competing at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.

 

Sign up for The US Sun newsletter

 

 

Thank you!

 

Gold medalists Alyssa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Ilia Malinin from Team United States celebrate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Gold medalists Alyssa Liu, Amber Glenn and Ilia Malinin of Team United States celebrate during the Olympics Medal Ceremony for the Team Event on February 8, 2026 in Milan, ItalyCredit: Getty

Two of TV’s buzziest competition franchises, Dancing With the Stars and The Traitors, are in a full-blown casting war over five of Team USA’s biggest breakout stars from the 2026 Winter Olympics, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.

“Traitors and DWTS casting departments will both be battling it out to get their hands on the most coveted stars from the Olympic games.

“The shows don’t overlap with their filming schedules so that isn’t the problem. The problem is more so that these athletes can’t afford to step away from their training for both shows.

“Especially DWTS, that films for a big chunk of the year,” the insider explained of Traitors, which typically films for a couple of weeks at the end of Spring and DWTS, which tapes for months from Summer until late Fall.

READ MORE ON TRAITORS

The coveted names on producers’ list? Figure skating phenom Ilia Malinin, comeback queen Alysa Liu, fan-favorite Amber Glenn, alpine ace Breezy Johnson, and NHL hero Jack Hughes.

And while fans might dream of seeing multiple Olympians double-dip in both shows, the reality is far more complicated.

“For Jack, there’s no way he can do DWTS. It overlaps too much with his NHL schedule,” the insider said of the New Jersey Devils hockey player – whose season runs from October to April.

With the NHL season stretching deep into the spring, a grueling DWTS rehearsal and live show schedule simply isn’t realistic and a shorter, more contained shoot like The Traitors, however, is far more doable.

 

Most read in TV

 

Alysa Liu, wearing a gold medal and an American flag, smiles on the ice rink.

Gold medalist Alysa Liu of Team United States poses for a photo during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Single Skating at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic gamesCredit: Getty

Ilia Malinin holding an American flag and a gold medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Ilia Malinin takes a victory lap after his team gold medal win at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 08, 2026Credit: Getty

Amber Glenn celebrating with an American flag and a gold medal on the ice.

Amber Glenn of Team United States celebrates after the medal ceremony for the Team EventCredit: Getty

Breezy Johnson smiling while wearing a white beanie and holding up her gold medal from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Gold medalist Breezy Johnson of Team United States celebrates on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Alpine Downhill SkiingCredit: Getty

Jack Hughes of the United States celebrates with his gold medal during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Jack Hughes of United States celebrates the victory during the Ice Hockey Men’s Gold Medal Game match between Canada and USA on February 22, 2026 in Milan, ItalyCredit: Getty

“He can squeeze in Traitors though, Peacock would love to get him for this next season.”

The Quad God Factor

For DWTS, the battle is especially intense among the skaters, who are all also real-life friends.

“On the upcoming DWTS season, all of the top skaters have expressed interest in joining the show.

“They all want to – but the show will only take two Olympians max for one season,” the source said. “So it’s a battle to figure out which two that will be.”

Heading into the Olympics, Ilia, 21, and Amber, 26, were seen internally as the top two contenders.

“But sadly, Alysa has bumped Amber for that top contender spot,” the source spilled.

“The show is more interested in getting Alysa on there. And Ilia. To get Ilia on their cast is the main goal. But it will be up to him to see what he more wants to do.”

 

Achievements of the Superstar Athletes

 

All five athletes in contention for a slice of reality TV fame became headline-makers at the 2026 Winter Olympics, cementing themselves as breakout stars:

Ilia Malinin (Figure Skating)

  • Before 2026: Two-time World Champion, multiple-time U.S. National Champion, and first skater to land a ratified quadruple Axel in competition, earning him the nickname “Quad God.”
  • At the 2026 Olympics: Helped Team USA secure gold in the team figure skating event.

Alysa Liu (Figure Skating)

  • Before 2026: Two-time U.S. National Champion and World Champion who made a stunning comeback on her own terms after briefly stepping away from the sport.
  • At the 2026 Olympics: Captured gold in women’s singles and contributed to Team USA’s team event medal, completing one of the Games’ biggest redemption arcs.

Amber Glenn (Figure Skating)

  • Before 2026: U.S. National Champion known for her powerful skating style and triple Axel attempt on the international stage.
  • At the 2026 Olympics: Earned her first Olympic medal with a podium finish in the team event.

Breezy Johnson (Alpine Skiing)

  • Before 2026: World downhill champion who battled back from multiple injuries to return to elite competition.
  • At the 2026 Olympics: Won gold in the women’s downhill, delivering one of Team USA’s most thrilling speed-event victories of the Games.

Jack Hughes (Ice Hockey)

  • Before 2026: NHL All-Star center and one of the league’s most dynamic American scorers.
  • At the 2026 Olympics: Played a pivotal offensive role in leading Team USA men’s hockey to a gold medal finish, cementing his status as a face of American hockey.

Ilia, nicknamed “Quad God” for his historic technical arsenal, is viewed as DWTS’ ultimate get following the superstar amount of attention he received during the Olympic Games.

“[The producers] desperately want Quad God, he’s their number one.

“Schedule wise he can film both as the shows don’t overlap. But he can’t take that much time off of both from skating so will have to choose one.”

Meanwhile, gold medalist Alysa, 20, has a logistical edge.

“Alysa already is in LA going to school at UCLA so logistically it’s easy for her to do DWTS.

“The same way Jordan did DWTS while also going to school and competing,” they said of U.S. Olympic gymnast sensation Jordan Chiles, who was also a UCLA bruin while competing at the collegiate level and filming DWTS all at the same time.

The fourth season of The Traitors will conclude on Thursday with a heart-pounding finale followed immediately by a tense reunion.

Season 5 of The Traitors is expected to film at the end of April or early May, with preliminary casting already underway behind the scenes.

RECOMMENDED STORIES

Meanwhile, DWTS begins rehearsals in August before their September premiere.

The show, which requires daily rehearsals and countless practice sessions, doesn’t conclude filming until late November.

Ilia Malinin of Team United States competing in Men's Single Skating - Short Program Team Event.

Ilia Malinin of Team United States competes in Men’s Single Skating on February 07, 2026 in Milan, ItalyCredit: Getty

Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in Women's Single Skating - Free Skating at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games.

Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in Women’s Single Skating – Free Skating at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic gamesCredit: Getty

Cast members of "The Traitors" seated around a compass-rose shaped table, with host Alan Cumming standing behind.

Traitors season 4 finalists Rob Rausch, Mark Ballas, Alan Cumming, Tara Lipinski, Maura Higgins, and Eric Nam at the roundtableCredit: Getty

Related Posts

Our Privacy policy

https://amazingus.colofandom.com - © 2026 News - Website owner by LE TIEN SON