9/16/2009

in

Delay injures foot during routine practice.

Thomas Vo

["Dancing with the Stars"](http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/09/16/tom-delay-dancing-with-the-stars/) contestant, Tom Delay, is the first to suffer an injury this season. "Stars," which starts this Monday, Sept. 21, is in its ninth season.  
  
[![Politician Tom DeLay attends a party at the Coco De Ville lounge to mark the start of Season 9 for Dancing with the Stars](http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/3/8/5/2/Politician_Tom_DeLay_10a5.JPG?adImageId=3010032&imageId=6176378)](http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=tom delay dancing with the stars&iid=6176378)


However, this injury comes with no great surprise. [Delay](http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/410249_dancing16.html), at 62, was the former House Majority Leader. His foot started hurting Saturday, which turned out to be from a pre-stress fracture in his right foot.  
  
Regardless of injury, Delay is determined to stay and compete in the dance show.  
  
"Let me put it this way: I'm going to dance until the foot breaks," Delay tells TVGuide.com.  
  
Delay, also known as "the Hammer," is perhaps the longest shot in the competition. He earned the nickname during his time in office for his regular acts of political retribution on his opponents. Former UFC champion Chuck "the Iceman" Liddell and musician Mya offer [competition](http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/09/16/tom-delay-dancing-with-the-stars/) for Delay. Mya has perhaps the best odds for winning since she has already proven her skills through music videos such as "Lady Marmalade" and "My Love is Like… Wo."