Emmys: Olympians Ilona Maher and Stephen Nedoroscik talk about ‘DWTS’ and more
U.S. Olympians Ilona Maher and Stephen Nedoroscik talk to USA TODAY’s Ralphie Aversa at the Emmys about life after the Paris Games.
Ilona Maher brought her energy to the ballroom last night at the premiere of “Dancing with the Stars.”
The Olympic rugby star from Burlington takes part in this season of the reality show together with his professional partner Alan Bersten.
In the first episode, Maher said she wanted to highlight the importance of body confidence during her time on the show.
“I’m a very tall, muscular woman, but I also feel so beautiful and feminine,” Maher said. “I mean, you know, I didn’t grow up in very comfortable circumstances, so now I want to make it easier for young girls to love their bodies.”
“I approach the game like an animal, but in the ballroom I bring the beauty,” she added.
This is how she did it:
What song did Ilona Maher dance to on “DWTS”?
At the “Dancing with the Stars” premiere, the stars danced to a song of their choice that represents their personal anthem.
Maher danced a cha-cha to Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”
How did Ilona Maher do on “DWTS”?
For her cha-cha, the judges of Dancing with the Stars gave Ilona Maher a score of 18/30. Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli all gave Maher 6/10.
The bronze medalist was thrilled with the result and cheered and shook her chest with her partner Alan Bersten.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect this,” Maher said. “I think you guys are being a little too nice, but I appreciate you all, thank you.”
Who was eliminated from “DWTS”?
There were no eliminations in last night’s episode of Dancing with the Stars. The first elimination will take place next week on September 24th and will be based on a combination of judges’ scores and audience votes from the first two weeks.
How to stream “DWTS” or watch it live
“Dancing with the Stars” airs live on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesday nights. The show is also available for streaming on Hulu the next day.
It began last night with a two-hour premiere and will next air on September 24 at 8:00 p.m. EST.
Who is Ilona Maher?
Ilona Maher is a professional rugby player and two-time Olympian from Burlington, Vermont.
This summer she won a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Maher is known for her presence on social media, where she has gone viral for promoting body positivity and empowerment.
She is a graduate of Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, where she played rugby and studied nursing.
