'Dance' judges fawn over Yamaguchi's rumba

News & Observer - Raleigh, NC, USA - Once again, there were no unwelcome surprises for Kristi Yamaguchi fans in Tuesday's "elimination" episode of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

As they've done every week since the beginning of Season 6, the figure-skating legend and her partner/trainer, Mark Ballas, wowed judges and audience alike.

They did it this time with a sexy rumba in Monday's show that earned them a near-perfect score of 29 for the second week in a row.

"I'm gonna give you three words: Fab. U. Lous," judge Len Goodman said.

Not to be outdone, judge Bruno Tonioli gushed: "It's really Kristi Yum-u-licious tonight!"

Carrie Ann Inaba, the more restrained of the three judges, praised Yamaguchi for shedding previous inhibitions, even if it meant losing some moves.

The rumba presented a challenge for the normally shy Yamaguchi, who faced added pressure when she and Ballas rehearsed the Latin dance in front of her visiting husband, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Bret Hedican, and their two young daughters, Keara and Emma.