Kristina Vogel (35) dreams of participating in "Let's Dance" - in a wheelchair. On the podcast "WONDERMOM" by Natascha Ochsenknecht (61), the 35-year-old spoke again about her wish to take on the RTL dance show and accept a new athletic challenge for herself.
When asked which TV format would particularly appeal to her, Kristina Vogel didn't have to think long: "I would definitely be up for 'Let's Dance'." She finds it especially exciting that she would have to learn a completely new sport for it. "I've never done it, so I would basically have to learn it too."
The competitive aspect plays a major role for her - to compete athletically with others, but in her own way.
Kristina Vogel expressed this wish two years ago
Vogel has been considering participating in "Let's Dance" for quite some time. Back in 2024, she had stated that she could imagine appearing on the RTL dance show. At the time, she told the "Bild" newspaper that she wanted to find a new form of expression despite her limitations.
Kristina Vogel is one of the most successful German cyclists in history. The Thuringian won numerous national and international titles and became, among other achievements, a two-time Olympic champion in track cycling. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, she won gold in the team sprint, and in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, she won gold in the individual sprint.
However, her active career ended after a serious training accident in June 2018. In a collision with another rider, Vogel suffered a spinal cord injury and has been paraplegic ever since. After a long rehabilitation phase, she remained connected to sports, advocates for inclusion, and is regularly seen as an expert and TV guest.
"Let's Dance" in a wheelchair? Role model from Norway
Kristina Vogel's participation would be a first for "Let's Dance" in Germany, but not entirely without precedent. In international dance formats, there have already been candidates with disabilities.
Vogel found inspiration for her wish in Norway: In the Norwegian version of the dance show "Skal vi danse?", Birgit Skarstein participated in 2020 as the first wheelchair user. The Paralympic champion showed together with her dance partner Philip Raabe that dancing is also possible in a wheelchair.
