Ilona Maher's Take: Olympics vs. DWTS Showdown

Ilona Maher, the 28-year-old pro rugby player, thrives on competition, whether it's on the grand stage of the Olympics or the glitzy ballroom of Dancing With the Stars.

In a recent interview with Us Weekly, Maher reflected on her experiences, drawing parallels between winning a bronze medal for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics and her runner-up finish on season 33 of DWTS. While both competitions were intense, Maher emphasized that the Olympics presented a unique level of challenge that surpassed her time on the dance floor.

Her comments followed gymnast Stephen Nederoscik's perspective, who also participated in season 33, suggesting that the reality show was more demanding than expected.

“I feel like they're hyping up Dancing With the Stars,” Maher shared exclusively with Us Weekly during a photoshoot for her collaboration with Quaker Oats. “It was very hard. It was extremely hard. Mentally very hard for me, but in a different way. I think there was just different pressure levels.”

As Maher gears up to return to rugby with the Bristol Bears, she highlighted the distinct pressures of the Olympics, emphasizing that the competition was not just about personal achievement but also about representing her team and program to inspire young girls dreaming of Olympic glory in rugby.

Comparatively, Dancing With the Stars was more of a solo journey for Maher.

“This was about me dancing, looking pretty on the screen, and dancing for people,” she added. “It was very hard, but I think I put more pressure on it maybe than it had to be...Dancing With the Stars was amazing, and I got to do so much with it. But I'm like, OK, that was that experience?”

Despite the differences, Maher noted a common thread between her Olympic and DWTS ventures - the unwavering support from fans. She acknowledged the significant influence of social media in garnering votes during her time on DWTS.

Looking ahead, Maher aims to leverage her social media presence to continue collaborating with partners. Expressing gratitude for her association with Quaker Oats, she emphasized the importance of authenticity in her brand partnerships.

“When they reached out, it was really cool because this is something that we had in our cabinet, and I think my parents still probably have a thing in the cabinet that's always just there,” Maher shared. “It's really nice because my brand is about authenticity. It's about partnering with things that I love and spreading that message and never being forced about it and having something that feels natural to promote.”