Olympian Ilona Maher wants to show female athletes are 'so much more than their sport' on Dancing With the Stars

Olympian Ilona Maher is ready to show the world that there's so much more to her than her incredible bronze-medal-winning rugby career.

The 28-year-old, who just graced the cover of Sports Illustrated's digital September swimsuit issue, told Entertainment Weekly that winning the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars would further highlight how female athletes can accomplish anything they set their minds to — on and off the field.

"I think it'll just show what I've been trying to say, which is female athletes are so much more than their sport, so much more than the stereotypes that they're put in with the sport," Maher said at a recent DWTS press line. "It's so awesome to show what my body type can do, and how beautiful it can be in all sorts of spaces."

Maher represented the United States in both the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, the latter of which saw her earn a bronze medal. She is the first rugby player to ever compete on Dancing With the Stars, and joins season 33 alongside fellow Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik, a.k.a. Pommel Horse Guy. 

The medalists, however, didn't actually meet until the reality show. "We didn't get to talk at all," Maher said. Still, she noted, "I think we're both going into [this] open-minded. I think we're both athletes who are at the top of our game, so we know what it takes to be great and to work hard, and we'll see how it goes."

When it comes to any potential athletic crossover between dancing and rugby, however, Maher's partner, pro dancer Alan Bersten, admitted it's pretty much nonexistent.

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"Maybe the pasa doble! We'll see," He said. "I think the greatest thing that Ilona has from rugby is that competitiveness, that drive to learn, that want to get better. And I've already seen it. We've only had two rehearsals, but they've been incredible. I legit can't stop smiling. I feel so lucky to be with Ilona. I'm just so excited for this season."

Maher added that most of their rehearsals have consisted of them doing "the same move over and over again." But, she continued, "Getting slightly better each time and feeling more confident in it each time we do it. So it's going to take a lot of like, breaking it down into cards and putting it all together."

It also helps that duo get along well. "I'm excited for everyone to see it, because we do have fun. It's four hours, but it just flies by," Bersten said. "So it's going to be nice to be able to just, you know, halfway through the rehearsals, take a little selfie, just have fun."

Maher added, "I think as we progress and as I start to feel the flow, I think the confidence will really, really come through, and I hope it shows in the dance floor."

Dancing With the Stars season 33 will premiere Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.