U.S. rugby Olympic gold medalist and bronze medalist Ilona Maher was among the celebrities announced Wednesday for the 33rd season of “Dancing with the Stars.” She will be one of two Olympians competing, joining Stephen Nedoroscik, the U.S. team’s rising star who became known as the “Pommel Horse Guy.”
Maher, 28, rose to stardom on social media through her TikToks and body positivity content.
Nedoroscik, 25, won two bronze medals in Paris and was the first competitor announced in August. He became an internet sensation thanks to memes about his pre-competition preparations and his Superman-like transformation before hitting the dance floor.
Maher will work with his partner Alan Bersten, Nedoroscik with Rylee Arnold.
Former NBA star Dwight Howard and wide receiver Danny Amendola – who won two Super Bowls with the Patriots – will also join the cast. Howard will dance with partner Daniella Karagach, Amendola with Witney Carson.
Artem Chigvintsev, who was recently arrested for domestic violence, will not return as a professional.
The cast is completed by 51-year-old “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Tori Spelling, “Bachelor” star Joey Graziadei, “Bachelorette” star Jenn Tran, Oscar-nominated actor Eric Roberts (brother of Julia and father of Emma), “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Phaedra Creonta Parks, actors Chandler Kinney (“Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin”) and Reginald VelJohnson (“Family Matters”) and model Brooks Nader.
Also taking part will be Anna Sorokin, the fraudster who was convicted in 2019 of defrauding banks, hotels and friends after falsely posing as a wealthy German heiress named Anna Delvey. Sorokin has been wearing an ankle bracelet since October 2022, when she was placed under house arrest.
“Dancing with the Stars,” hosted by Alfonso Riberio and Julianne Hough, premieres September 17 on ABC.
Information from the Associated Press was included in this report.
