Ilona Maher wants to show what female athletes can do on “DWTS”

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

The 28-year-old, who just appeared on the cover of Sports illustratedThe digital September swimsuit issue, said Weekly entertainment that the win of the coming season Dancing with the stars would demonstrate even more clearly that female athletes can achieve anything they set their minds to – on and off the field.

“I think it will just show what I wanted to say, which is that female athletes are so much more than their sport, so much more than the stereotypes that are imposed on them through sport,” Maher said recently at a DWTS Press release. “It's so great to show what my body type can do and how beautiful it can be in all kinds of environments.”

Maher represented the United States at both the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal at the latter. She is the first female rugby player to ever compete in a Dancing with the starsand will be competing alongside fellow Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik, also known as Pommel Horse Guy, in season 33.

However, the medalists only met on the reality show. “We couldn't talk to each other at all,” said Maher. Nevertheless, she noted: “I think we both go into [this] open-minded. I think we're both athletes who are at the peak of our abilities, so we know what it takes to be great and work hard, and we'll see how it goes.”

However, when it comes to a possible sporting overlap between dancing and rugby, Maher's partner, professional dancer Alan Bersten, admitted that there is virtually none.

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“Maybe the Pasa Doble! We'll see,” he said. “I think the best thing that Ilona has taken from rugby is this competitive spirit, this desire to learn, this desire to get better. And I've seen that already. We've only had two rehearsals, but they've been incredible. I really 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 consisted of doing “the same movement over and over again.” But, she continued, “we're getting a little better each time and feeling more confident in it each time. So it's going to take a lot of work to break everything down into cards and put it all together.”

It also helps the duo get along well with each other. “I'm excited for everyone to see it because we're really having fun. It's four hours, but it flies by,” Bersten said. “So it'll be nice to just, you know, be able to take a little selfie in the middle of rehearsals and just have fun.”

Maher added: “I think the further we progress and the more I start to feel the flow, the more confidence will come and I hope that shows on the dance floor.”

Dancing with the stars Season 33 will premiere on September 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the next day.