Bright dances away the heartache

Olympic snowboarder Torah Bright says being on Dancing with the Stars made her feel "exposed".

The 27-year-old used her performances on the Seven show to channel deep emotions from her colourful life, including her widely publicised marriage breakdown last year.

Bright split with her husband of three years, US snowboarder Jake Welch, in the lead-up to the Sochi Winter Olympics and previously said it was a time where she was "barely surviving".

Though she was forced to pull out of DWTS because of a toe injury this week, the athlete said being on the series had helped her heal in other ways.

"I am proud of myself because I have been exposed in so many ways that were very new to me and I have grown in so many ways," Bright told AAA.

"It was uncomfortable and hard to work through at times but it is all in the name of dance and fun."

A highlight of Bright's dancing journey was a contemporary routine in an earlier week that was inspired by her divorce, which she now says was the "best decision" she has ever made.

Bright revealed that performance was the first time she felt she could truly let go.

"Even though it was my story, I connected with it for the first time," she explained.

"That was my favourite dance for sure."

Having wrapped up on the series earlier than she expected, Bright is now gearing up to release her autobiography, It Takes Courage, later this month.

In it, she discusses everything from her sporting career to her short-lived marriage.

She is hoping her toe injury will heal in time for her to compete in the X Games in Aspen, Colorado, in January but until then she is looking forward to spending the next few months at home in Australia.

"I haven't had a Christmas in Australia since I was 13 so I would very much like to stay and have that with my family and friends," Bright said.