The body is weak now and my back is the worst. It hurts to sit, hurts to stand and hurts to lie down. There is nothing that is comfortable, but you have to take all the energy you have left and log out on Sunday, says Perla Malmberg.
She thanks her "fantastic followers" for taking her this far in the competition - and her sense of rhythm.
I have a lot of music in me, but I've never felt that I'm good at dancing and tried to be funny instead. But now I feel that I can dance - almost, says Perla Malmberg.
Started from scratch
Neither athlete Ferry Svan had counted on making it to the final, where the opponents also consist of Theo Haraldsson and David Lindgren.
I told my friends that if you want to see me live, you have to be there for the first program, because then I don't know how it will go, but now I haven't been home for almost 60 days, says he.
Direct communication
Dealing with a jury's judgments is part of competitive dance, but Perla describes the experience as a rollercoaster.
It's hard to predict where it will land sometimes. You think you've done a good dance and then you get worse criticism than when you've done a bad dance and feel like the worst in the world, says she.
Ferry, who has been drilled in the athletic world, has a more pragmatic view of jury criticism.
You want to get better, and then it's good that someone says what you're doing wrong clearly and directly. My partner Filippa and I have direct communication. If it's bad, then we say it - or she says it.
Beating dad
Regardless of the outcome on Saturday, Perla Malmberg and Ferry Svan are satisfied with having gone further in the program than their fathers. Actor Claes Malmberg, who recently disclosed that he has incurable cancer, and skiing legend and program leader Gunde Svan both competed in 2018 and finished in ninth and third place, respectively.
Dad said to me before that if I beat him, he'll ask if he can't get another chance, says Ferry.
Whether the celebrity status of their fathers has brought any advantages is, however, more doubtful, according to Perla Malmberg.
When I was little, I was very proud that my dad was famous, but now it's maybe become a bit too much of one's identity. People think you get everything for free and don't have to fight when you actually have to fight twice as hard.
But he's a very good dad, and that's what I focus on more than that he's famous, says she.
Kristina Erkenborn/TT
Facts: They compete in the final of "Let's Dance"
TT
Perla Rainey Malmberg & Nic Alexander: Dance samba and a show number inspired by the boxing ring.
Theo Haraldsson & Paulina Rosenkvist: Dance tango and a show number with "total presence".
Ferry Svan & Filippa Nord: Dance waltz and a show number with an axe and safety routines in place.
David Lindgren & Tove Villför: Dance cha cha and a breakdance number with two childhood friends.
