Ilona Maher goes viral: She effortlessly pushes away opponent in epic rugby match
US rugby player Ilona Maher made headlines after effortlessly shoving an opponent away during one of her matches. Here’s what she had to say about the moment.
Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher brings her talent to the ballroom.
The Burlington, Vermont native will compete in the upcoming season of “Dancing with the Stars.”
The 28-year-old has risen to stardom since the Olympic Games in Paris this summer, where she won a bronze medal with the US women’s sevens rugby team.
She has also become known for her social media presence, which she uses to promote body positivity and empowerment, most recently appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s September digital issue.
Here’s everything you need to know about Maher’s new gig and how to watch it.
What Ilona Maher said about “Dancing with the Stars”
Vermont native Ilona Maher will compete in the upcoming season of “Dancing with the Stars” alongside her professional partner Alan Bersten, an opportunity she described as a “cool rite of passage.”
“So many of my Olympic idols, from Simone Biles to Suni Lee, have done ‘dancing.’ And it’s a new skill that’s taken me out of my comfort zone,” Maher said in an interview with USA Today.
Maher, who has no formal dance experience, said her skills on the court have not yet translated to ballroom dancing.
“Rugby is often about hitting with full force and throwing your body at your opponent. Let’s see how I can move my body here,” Maher said. “And my dancing skills, I think, are not really up to par. My dancing skills with friends are OK, my ballroom dancing skills are zero. Hopefully I can transfer the vibe of having fun with friends to this ballroom dancing.”
The 28-year-old also said she was looking forward to taking off her rugby uniform.
“Glitz and glamour are such a big part of it, and I love dressing up,” Maher said. “It’s going to be really fun to wear more glitter and sequins.”
How to watch Ilona Maher on “Dancing with the Stars”
Olympian Ilona Maher will compete in the upcoming season of “Dancing with the Stars” along with other cast members with ties to New England.
Massachusetts Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik, former New England Patriots star Danny Amendola and Boston-born “Bachelorette” Jenn Tran will also be part of the new season of “DWTS.”
The ABC competition reality show pairs celebrity contestants with professional dance partners who compete against each other each week in ballroom dancing.
Season 33 of “Dancing With the Stars” premieres on September 17 on ABC and can be streamed on Disney Plus.
Who is Ilona Maher?
Ilona Maher is an Olympic medalist and professional rugby sevens player from Burlington, Vermont. She won a bronze medal in women’s rugby sevens at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, bringing home the first American medal in the discipline.
The 28-year-old is a graduate of Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, where she played rugby and studied nursing.
Maher played field hockey, basketball and softball in her youth and started playing rugby at age 17.
