Hope Solo and her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, lasted for nine weeks of competition. The tandem came into Tuesday's episode with 49 points - nearly 20 points less than first-place finisher Ricki Lake.
For Solo, it was sometimes turbulent, sometimes combative and often emotional.
When she learned she would not be this season's champion, she still planned to go for the gold, but using the talent that made her a star in the first place.
"I am going to go back and try - instead of winning the mirror ball trophy - I'm going to go and try and win a gold medal this time," she said on TV.
On the press line after the show, Solo attempted one interview, then left the floor, wiping away tears.
Her publicist said she wanted to talk, but it was just too hard.
Chmerkovskiy also skipped the press line.
The three stars moving on to next week's finals did not... each one excited about what's to come in the last week of competition.
Ricki Lake said she's surprised she has made it this far.
"I was never the favorite, I think of anybody's list," she said. "I know the odds in the online betting on these shows. I was 10-to-1 at the start, so I'm feeling like I'm beating the odds."
Rob Kardashian said there's no turning back.
"I am in the finals so, I want that trophy now more than ever," he said. "I really got to bring 200 percent in rehearsals this week."
"We deserve to be in the finals and we deserve to have an opportunity to take home that mirror ball trophy," J.R. Martinez said. "I don't know what she has planned, but whatever she says, I'm going to be like, 'Let's do it. Let's let it all hang out, because I want to take that trophy home and I want Karina (Smirnoff) to have it, too.'"
Tuesday's episode also featured an appearance by the Muppets and a performance by Cobra Starship.
View photos from elimination night in week nine of "Dancing With The Stars."
