Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - October 2, 2024 - Source: Getty — Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - Ilona Maher (Picture: Getty)

"Very tough for me" - Ilona Maher makes her feelings known on competing in DWTS after runner-up finish

Modified Jan 22, 2025 19:34 GMT

Ilona Maher shared her experience of competing on the 33rd season of Dancing With The Stars and said it was very tough. The American rugby player was paired with pro dancer Alan Bersten and they finished runners-up during the finale in November 2024.

Maher earned a call-up to the reality TV dancing show following an impressive campaign at the Paris Olympics, where she led the USA Rugby Sevens Team to a bronze medal. She was equally popular for her TikTok videos, and despite having minimal dancing skills, the 28-year-old reached the show's finale and finished second.

Speaking in an interview with CNN recently, the Olympic medalist said competing on the show was very tough for her due to lack of dancing skills. However, she didn't regret the experience.

"[Competing on the show was] very tough for me. You're going out there to do something you're not good at in front of millions of people. But I'm so happy I did it," Ilona Maher said.

Maher also said in an interview with Parade last week that DWTS had made her weaker physically as she didn't do strength training during the three months on the show.

"I feel weaker, which isn't something that I like to be. I always love to be stronger. I've always found like my body for a purpose, not for aesthetic. I function over form so it was tough for me to be in this environment where, I was using my body a different way where I wasn't strength training or running," she said.

The 28-year-old signed a three-month contract with Premiership Women's Rugby club Bristol Bears following the end of her DWTS campaign and made her debut against rivals Gloucester-Hartpury on January 5.

Ilona Maher's DWTS partner Alan Bersten reacts as Olympian scores maiden try in first full PWR debut

Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten - Source: Getty

Ilona Maher came on as a substitute during Bristol Bears' first game of the year against Gloucester-Hartpury and played for 20 minutes. The 28-year-old made her first full PWR debut a week later against Exeter Chiefs and recorded a try and an assist to lead the Bears to a 41-31 win.

Maher received appreciation from her Dancing With The Stars partner Alan Bersten following the impressive performance. Expressing his excitement, Bersten wrote:

"Let's gooooooo."

The two-time Olympian faced Leicester Tigers last week in her second full appearance but suffered a minor nose injury after colliding with three players during the game. Bears will now take on Trailfinders on Saturday, January 25.