Dancing with the Stars’ dancing pro, Peta Murgatroyd says that her partner, Lamar Odom’s emotions got the best of him before his elimination. She spoke about her friendship with Lamar and how she believes he was the most improved dancer of the season.

The 39-year-old former Los Angeles Lakers player was previously linked to Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ Khloé Kardashian. The two were married for seven years. From his previous relationship with Liza Morales, he has two children - Destiny, 21, and Lamar Jr., 17, - who have been cheering him on from the Dancing with the Stars audience. He danced with partner Peta Murgatroyd and they earned a score of 20 out of 40 for their Viennese Waltz. He was in the bottom two with Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown. Unfortunately, it was Lamar that was sent home.

After the elimination, his dance partner, Peta wrote (via People) about her experience dancing with Lamar and what caused their downfall that led to being voted out of the competition. She started by saying that though it may be the end of her and Lamar’s run on Dancing with the Stars, it’s “the start of a great new friendship for Lamar and I.” She continued by saying, “I truly feel like we were meant to be partners” and that she is grateful that she was paired with him. She explained that the night before the live show, “Lamar had out Viennese Waltz down pat. We were nailing the technique and the emotion, and I was so happy for him.” She then explained that when it was showtime, “he felt like he was about to hyperventilate with nerves.” Peta said that Lamar was “pacing back and forth for hours” during dress rehearsal and that his “hands were constantly clammy.” Though she said she did her best to calm him down, nothing seemed to help.

She revealed that she believes the fact that his children, Destiny and Lamar Jr. were in the audience “made him lose focus and second-guess himself.” Regardless of the nerves, Peta said that her waltz with Lamar was “beautiful,” and said she was “so proud of him for showing emotion and really getting into it.” She said it made her sad that Lamar had “mistakes and timing issues” because “he really did have it nailed the day before.” She said that when judge Leah Remini gave him a score of 7, it really got her emotional because she felt that Leah was compassionate and “gets his mental struggle.” Peta revealed that she thought that Lamar was “the most improved dancer on the show.” She concluded her post by saying what an overall positive experience it was for both her and Lamar, as well as such a powerful “story of redemption.”

It seems that the fact that Peta and Lamar were paired up was the best match the show could have had. Regardless of the nerves, Lamar gave it his all and for that his dance partner remains very proud of him. Since this weeks’ Disney night had an unexpected non-elimination twist, fans will have to wait and see who will make it through the elimination next week.

Next: SNL’s Kenan Thompson Texts Former All That Costar Kel Mitchell After Every DWTS Dance

Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays 8pm EST on ABC.

Source: People