22-year-old goes from train attack hero to ‘Dancing with the Stars’ …in 12 days

It’s been a busy summer for Alek Skarlatos. On August 21, the 22-year-old National Guardsman was vacationing with two friends in Europe when a would-be mass murderer opened fire with an AK-47 on board their train to Paris. Skarlatos, along with his traveling companions—U.S. Airman First Class Spencer Stone and student Anthony Sadler—and two other passengers, subdued the heavily armed man, saving hundreds of lives.

French president François Hollande presented the three Americans and Briton Chris Norman with the Legion of Honor on August 24. Stone and Skarlatos are also set to receive the U.S. Army’s Soldiers Medal and the Air Force’s Airman’s Medal for their actions.

But that’s not all this great country has in store for Alek Skarlatos. This morning—exactly 12 days after his heroic train intervention—we learned that Spec. Skarlatos will appear on the next season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, premiering September 14.

The American dream never came true so darn fast.

Molly Fitzpatrick is senior editor of Fusion’s Pop & Culture section. Her interests include movies about movies, TV shows about TV shows, and movies about TV shows, but not so much TV shows about movies.