Broken rib fails to slow Danica McKellar on 'Dancing With the Stars'

Danica McKellar of "Dancing With the Stars"

"Dancing With the Stars" contestants are expected to strut or shake despite a twisted ankle or bad back, but Danica McKellar danced  Monday night with a broken rib.

"The Wonder Years" alum fractured a rib at rehearsals on Thursday. It occurred as she practiced a lift with professional partner Val Chmerkovskiy. 

McKellar's salsa – set to "Watch Out for This (Bumaye)" – earned a score of 33 out of a possible 40 from judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and special guest judge Ricky Martin on "Latin Night."

Not everyone had a splendid time.

Paralympian Amy Purdy had to leave after her solo but before the group dance competition to be checked out for a possible back injury.

It was an even rougher night for reality TV personality NeNe Leakes, who was eliminated from the season 18 competition. Eliminations are based on a combination of judges' scores and viewer votes.

"This has been an amazing positive experience for me," she said. "I am so proud of myself to stand here and compete with Olympians."

Leakes joins five other departed contestants – comic Drew Carey, pop singer Cody Simpson, "Star Wars" actor Billy Dee Williams, swimmer Diana Nyad and former NHL player Sean Avery.

Remaining in competition are McKellar, Purdy, actress Candace Cameron Bure, figure skaters Meryl Davis and Charlie White, and actor-musician James Maslow.

    

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