Kyla Ross

Credit: Craig Sjodin/ABC

Dancing With the Stars

Alexandra Raisman: I'm Trying to Be Myself on Dancing with the Stars

Originally posted 04/09/2013 11:00AM

For much of her competitive life, Olympic gymnast Alexandra Raisman was trained to maintain a stoic demeanor in competition. But now that she's on Dancing with the Stars, the two-time gold medalist is learning to shed the seriousness, have fun and play to the audience.

"It's hard when you're on national television to show your real self, but I'm trying to just be myself," a smiling Raisman told PEOPLE after wowing the crowd and the judges with a stellar contemporary routine with partner Mark Ballas on Monday's performance show.

"We have fun all day," Raisman said of dance rehearsals with Ballas, a two-time Dancing champ. "This past week was a really great week."

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Filed Under: , Dancing With the Stars, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, Mark Ballas

Credit: Richie Buxo/Splash News Online

The Fierce Five Party with Jordin Sparks in N.Y.C.

Originally posted 08/16/2012 06:00AM

There's no slowing down for the Fierce Five!

Team USA's group of Olympic gold medalist gymnasts – Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, McKayla Maroney, Gabby Douglas and Jordyn Wieber – began making their way through New York City, where they partied with Jordin Sparks, but not before attending a lighting ceremony at the Empire State Building.

Following Tuesday's taping of The Today Show, the ladies, with moms in tow, took a bunch of photos at the lighting ceremony and seemed to be having a great time, an onlooker tells PEOPLE.

"Everyone was asking McKayla about her little frown look that got all the online attention," the source says. "She kept getting asked to do it for people."

Following their busy morning, the girls, sans Douglas, got a chance to relax with new pal Sparks, whom they met on the set of Today.

The ladies joined the Sparkle star and her costars at the official afterparty for the film, presented by Alizé Coco, at the Yard at the Soho Grand Hotel.

"The girls were the hit of the party," a different source says. "Everyone wanted a picture of them!"
– Kate Hogan and Dahvi Shira

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Filed Under: Aly Raisman, Jordin Sparks, Jordyn Wieber, Kyla Ross, McKayla Maroney, Empire State Building, Hotel, Hotel Bar, Private Party

Credit: Getty (2)

Summer Olympics 2012

Kate Gives U.S. Gymnasts a Thrill

Originally posted 08/06/2012 11:15AM

Gymnastics royalty encountered the real thing on Sunday in London, as four of Team USA's female Olympic gymnasts – out of the so-called Fab Five – were starstruck by an unexpected chat with the Duchess of Cambridge.

Kate, 30, attending the beginning of the event finals at Greenwich Arena, is a huge supporter of Great Britain's athletes at these London Games – but was impressed enough by the gold-winning American team to approach and offer her congratulations.

"Just met princess Kate with @jordyn_wieber @kyla_ross96 & @gabrielledoug she is so beautiful & so nice! I told her I loved her style lol :)," Aly Raisman wrote on Twitter.