Short track hope Reutter won't follow Ohno onto reality TV

AMERICAN Olympic hopeful Katherine Reutter has revealed she has turned down an appearance on Dancing with the Stars - because she's scared of failing to match Apolo Anton Ohno's winning standards.

FLYING THE FLAG: Katherine Reutter is one of the leading American hopes for the Olympic short track speed skating competition, which starts in Vancouver on Saturday (Getty Images)

After some impressive World Cup performances, short track skater Reutter is looking to follow in the path of idol Bonnie Blair, a five-time Olympic long track speed skating champion, in Vancouver.

However, she has no intention of following team-mate Ohno, who famously rumba-d, paso doble-d and hip-hopped to victory with partner Julianne Hough in the reality TV show three years ago.

"I've been asked to do a couple of reality TV shows but how can you compete with Apolo? He's just too good," she said.

The engaging Reutter would be a popular winner in Vancouver - and is certainly comfortable in the spotlight, recently appearing on Stephen Colbert's late night satire show and allowing the comedian to sign her thigh.

Colbert, the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, stepped in to sponsor the US speed skating team after former partners, Dutch bank DSB, were declared bankrupt, leaving behind a $300,000 (£191,000) shortfall.

Long track speed skater Shani Davis hasn't shown much gratitude - labeling Colbert a ‘jerk' after he criticised Canadian officials for not allowing the US team more ice time in Vancouver.

But Reutter has sprung to the defence of her team's self-styled and self-appointed assistant sports psychologist.

"Steven Colbert is one of the best sponsors we could have asked for," she added.

"Not only do we get the funding we need but great publicity.

"It's great to have a new group of people interested in our sport. Without Colbert we would never have reached out to this group of people."