There were a few surprise selections in the new cast of "Dancing With the Stars," including the show's first-ever married couple as well as celebrity chef Paula Dean, but perhaps the biggest shock was the inclusion of Army National Guard Spc. Alek Skarlatos.
Skarlatos, 22, made headlines last month after he helped stop a potential terror attack by tackling and subduing a man who was armed with a gun and a knife, and who could have harmed passengers aboard a high-speed train in France.
Alek Skarlatos, one of the three American servicemen hailed as heroes for subduing a gunman on a French train, sat down for his first American television interview with Robin Roberts on 'Good Morning America,' 8/28/15. (Heidi Gutman/ABC via Getty Images)
He is among three Americans, a British national and a Frenchman, who have been widely heralded as heroes since the incident unfolded, attracting worldwide media attention and accolades.
And now, he'll have a shot at winning the coveted Mirror Ball trophy. ABC announced on Wednesday morning that Skarlatos will be teaming up with professional partner Lindsay Arnold for the 21st season of "Dancing With the Stars."
"I think it'll be fun. I hope I learn a lot," Skarlatos told "Good Morning America" on Wednesday. "I'll need to if I'm going to stay on very long."
According to a biography on the show's website, Skarlatos is a California native who is "an avid painter and military history buff" and who studies at a local community college; he hopes to become a member of the police force.
The hero will join others, including actor Gary Busey, singers Nick Carter and Chaka Khan, and the show's first-ever married couple, actors Alex and Carlos PenaVega.
Read more about the cast here.
