Dancing with the Stars producers may have implemented new training safety measures to help celebrity participants avoid injury before the season starts, however those rules don't matter if the injury occurs outside the ballroom.
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"The cut only needed 7 stitches. Good news is soreness from back, knees & hips isn't noticeable!... It will heal."
Ireland's professional partner Tony Dovolani confirmed that she hurt her left leg while surfing in Santa Barbara to Access Hollywood on Wednesday.
In addition, Dovolani said Ireland's husband -- ER doctor Greg Olson -- was the one who gave the 46-year-old former supermodel the stitches, which are scheduled to be taken out in a week.
Since Dancing with the Stars ninth season premieres on Monday at 8PM ET/PT on ABC, Dovolani said he was surprised by the timing of the injury.
"You did what?" Dovolani told Access Hollywood when asked about his reaction to the injury. "And you weren't even dancing! Save the injuries for the dance floor."
Despite the injury, Dovolani said Ireland actually practiced "more" this week.
"It didn't slow her down a bit," he told Access Hollywood.
Dovolani presumably breathed a sigh of relief that Ireland will still be able to compete since his original eighth-season celebrity partner -- Access Hollywood co-anchor Nancy O'Dell -- was forced to quit the competition before it even began after suffering a torn meniscus in two places in her knee while rehearsing.
Earlier this week, indicted former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay revealed on his Twitter page that he suffered a pre-stress fracture in his foot while rehearsing -- however like Ireland, he doesn't expect the injury to impact his Dancing with the Stars participation.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio
