They say you should dance like no one is watching. For Will Bayley, that is decidedly not the case. To the contrary, the veteran para table tennis player could scarcely have engineered a more visible venue in which to cut a rug. Then again, Bayley has never shied away from a challenge. Born with arthrogryposis, which painfully restricts movements in all his joints, he was also diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at age seven. Now 31, Bayley has defied these would-be impediments to become the world's top-ranked Class 7 para table tennis player. He won gold in the 2016 Rio Paralympics, the same color medal he collected at the 2014 World Championships. While still a strong contender for the 2020 Paralympic gold, Bayley has broadened his bailiwick to the ballroom. The challenge was issued by the hit BBC show, "Strictly Come Dancing," which, like its American descendant "Dancing With the Stars," pairs celebrities of all stripes with professional dancers. In Bayley's case, the part of the professional dancer is more than capably played by Janette Manrara, whom he gives high marks for equitable treatment. "I thought she might be soft on me because of my difficulties, but she tells me straight, which is the best way," said Bayley. "She’s adapted it really well for me." On last Saturday's episode, the dynamic dancing duo nailed a challenging routine set to Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine's Latin-infused pop song "1-2-3," winning their way into the next round. While they were riding high, however, a quite unfortunate accident brought them back to earth. "Sadly, Will Bayley was injured during training and medics have said he cannot dance in the show this weekend," read a statement from the BBC. "Under the rules of Strictly Come Dancing, Will has been granted a bye to next week." Apparently, Bayley landed awkwardly jumping off a table and injured his knee. "I am absolutely gutted I cannot be performing tonight on strictly with Janette, sadly I'm injured and not fit to dance," tweeted Bayley. "I hope to be back on the dance floor next week." No one who knows him can harbor the slightest doubt that he will give his all to keep competing. As they say, dance like everyone is watching.

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