Amy Purdy Calls Derek Hough 'A Mad Scientist'

Amy Purdy poses with talk show host Meredith Vieria during her interview for the show on Thursday (October 16) in New York City.

The 34-year-old athlete opened up on the show about her time on Dancing With The Stars and pro partner Derek Hough, where she was the runner up during season 18.

“Actually, he’s fascinating,” she spoke of Derek. “So people call him a genius and I would say he is. I think he’s more like a mad scientist and the rehearsal studio is like his lab and what you don’t really see on tv is his creative process. He comes up with these dances and the different kind of ways he expresses himself you just don’t see it outside of the rehearsal studio.

Amy added, “He could be on the ground laughing or crying, not like he’s just out of control crying, but you have these real emotional moments coming up with dances and we would both be crying or cracking up. He truly is brilliant. It inspired me to want to be able to express myself more like that as well.”

Amy is also pictured at the Women’s Sports Foundation’s 35th Annual Salute to Women In Sports Awards held at Cipriani Wall Street on Wednesday evening (October 15) in New York City.