The cast of 2012 - Seven West Media

IRONMAN, AGE 26
CAINE ECKSTEIN
PARTNER: JESSICA PRINCE
DANCING FOR: THE JOHN MACLEAN FOUNDATION
“I don’t think anyone’s really got too much of an advantage, it’s just how you
train and how hard you go up to it because we’re all starting from scratch.”
Caine Eckstein rises before dawn each day for his first bout of
exercise. Twice more during the day he’ll hit the water or gym,
often completing five hours of weights and cardio every day.
For this professional competitor, it’s all about being the best.
At just 26, Caine is the best endurance ironman Australia has
ever seen. The Coolangatta Gold Champion took his wins to a
new record this year by becoming the only person in history to
win the iconic event five times.
Firmly committed and dedicated to his sport, as a teenager
Caine often avoided partying with friends, instead focusing
on training. “When I dedicated myself to train I wouldn’t go
out for three or four months before big races.”
It’s a winning formula he hopes will move from the beach to
the dance floor. “I’ve got a good work ethic and I try really
hard, and I like to achieve my goals, and this is the same sort
of thing.”
He says he had no reservations when being asked to compete
for the coveted mirror ball trophy. “It’s a challenge, and you
only live once - it’ll be a bit of a rush.”
Hoping to work on his posture and not aggravate a
recently injured hip, Caine says he’s mentally prepared for
the competition. “I don’t think my physique’s going to be
too helpful, I’m very top heavy and for something like the
Viennese Waltz it’s not the best thing. It’s physically hard but
mentally there’s a lot you’re trying to absorb and you really
have to think about it, so I suppose it’s whoever puts in the
hard work.”
Caine says he hopes to stay composed in the face of criticism
from the judges. “They’re professionals and I don’t know
anything about dancing, but I am sort of known as the more
fiery sort of person. But if they’re bagging me then I probably
deserve to be bagged.”
Dancing for the John Maclean Foundation which raises
money to support paraplegic children, Caine says he just
wants to be moving forward. “I’m pretty competitive and
I don’t want to get to a point where I’m not competitive
because then I’m probably not going too well.”
JESSICA PRINCE
This is Jessica’s DANCING WITH THE STARS debut.
Trained in Ballroom, Latin American, Classical Ballet,
Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Broadway, Tap and Funk styles
of dance, Jessica is ready to showcase her talents on the
dance floor.
Jessica was a soloist dancer in the American Broadway
production of Burn The Floor, as well as teaching the Burn The
Floor Bootcamp in Florida during the production.