After a whirlwind experience on Dancing with the Stars, one athlete is finding herself in a position she’s not used to. Moving from the tough world of rugby to the dance floor has really thrown her for a loop. It has made it hard for her to find the power she once knew so well. Balancing the demands of performance with her own well-being has been a tough journey for Illona Maher.

Despite the physical challenge of DWTS, Maher admits that the shift left her feeling weaker than she’d like. Maher, a key player on the USA Women’s Rugby Sevens team, has achieved remarkable feats in her sport winning bronze in Paris Olympics. Her body, once finely shaped for rugby’s strength demands, struggled to adapt to the dance routines.

The intense dance routines on DWTS threw her off compared to the workouts she was used to from rugby. The changes to her body have left her questioning her physical limits. She is eager to get back to a place where she can rebuild the muscle and power that once defined her. She knows it’s going to take time, but Maher is ready to put in the work needed for that.

For Maher, strength has always been more about what her body can do. Reflecting on her time on DWTS, she expressed how the experience challenged her usual approach to fitness. “I feel weaker, which isn’t something that I would like to be,” Maher says. “I always love to be stronger. I’ve always found my body is for a purpose, not for aesthetics. I go for function over form. So, it was tough for me to be in this environment where I was using my body in a different way, where I wasn’t strength training or running.” These words show that it threw her off from the strength-based fitness she has always excelled in. In rugby, she requires strength and endurance for every move, qualities she has always possessed.

Moving between these two worlds has shown Maher that it’s not just about performing. It’s about reconnecting with the power that really shapes who she is.

One Superstar isn’t enough to grow the sport

From the intense atmosphere of the Paris Olympics to the dazzling spotlight of Dancing with the Stars, Illona Maher found herself caught between two worlds. Moreover, Maher isn’t shy about using her influence to boost women’s sports. She has been speaking up for greater recognition for women athletes everywhere. DWTS allowed her to reach new fans, showing the difference between personal success and the lasting change women’s sports need.

She has always understood how powerful an athlete’s personal story can be in drawing people to a sport. Caitlin Clark, the standout basketball star from Iowa, captivates fans with her incredible skills and was named NCAA Player of the Year. “I’ve seen the power of people connecting with the individual and then going to a sport. You know, people connect with Caitlin Clark and go see a game, and that brings more fans in,”  she said. This shows how personal connections can drive people to explore new sports. Fans are more likely to support a sport when they feel a bond with the athletes, making it a strategy for broader engagement.

Maher’s journey from the rugby field to the dance floor shows the importance of discovering one’s strength. But it raise a question whether an athlete like Maher truly find a balance between these two worlds? What impact will it have on her long-term legacy both on and off the mat?