Ilona Maher won the Olympic bronze medal in rugby with Team USA. Then, she seemingly had a change of career plans. Temporarily switching her career, Maher decided to try her hands (and feet) in Dancing With The Stars. Now, this was a completely uncharted territory for the US athlete. However, ridiculed for being ‘too manly,’ Maher thought of taking the challenge to indulge in and learn a completely different craft. Because why not? And thankfully for the rugby star, she immediately found the guardian angel of her dancing lessons. 

Alan Bersten meeting Ilona Maher was the best thing that could have happened to the Olympic athlete. Reflecting on how much she has learned from Bersten, Maher said this in a recent episode of House Of Mahers, “Well I think it was just having a partner like Alan who knew the power of social media as well. Like we went into it not knowing like, okay, well I’ll post my videos, I don’t know how he’ll be about it.” Continuing with her experience, Maher went back to the very first day she shot together with Bersten. 

While she never had a proper idea about who Bersten was, Maher was generally nervous. However, it was the actor who broke the ice. Not only that, Bersten apparently taught Maher tricks to connect and engage more with the audience. And what was the solution? Well, it was TikTok! Maher said, “He was like, we gotta, we gotta shoot tiktoks. Like that’s what, how we’re gonna, you know, make, make the, the fans love us and really connect with them. And so l was like, oh, okay, like this guy actually wants to do it.” Maher further explained how she liked the fact that Bersten was never too shy to be himself. For example, he would often wear skirts to practice his dance and still remain utterly confident and secure in his skin. 

The Olympian detailed how she got irritated with Bersten’s repeated asks for TikTok videos. But all of that got overshadowed by the strong bond of friendship between the two. “But we’ve developed like a, you know, a really strong friendship because of that. And I think people really loved that connecting with us online,” emphasized Maher. She also gave an insight into how passionate Bersten was with his work. 

Having a reputation of being a tough coach, Alan Bersten made Maher work really hard. She also got reprimanded for not being able to get a dance choreographed properly even after ‘50’ times! Nonetheless, as the duo continued to enjoy their friendship, Alan Bersten had a heartfelt message for Ilona Maher recently.

Alan Bersten beams with happiness and pride as he reveals Ilona Maher brought out a new side of him

Alan Bersten never expected his journey on Dancing With The Stars to be as transformative as it has been, but Ilona Maher changed everything. The professional dancer admits that his rugby star partner brought out a new side of him. One that even he didn’t realize was there. “She came out there and embodied the dance – bodied not just embodied but bodied them too,” Alan raved, emphasizing Ilona’s incredible growth. Their partnership has gone beyond choreography. It has been about confidence, trust, and the energy Maher and Bersten together brought to every performance.

Alan couldn’t hide his pride as he reflected on Ilona’s progress. “I think America really got to see how much Ilona’s improved, how confident she is, just how special she is,” he said. From the first rehearsal to their standout semi final performances, Maher’s transformation left a lasting impression on her partner. Her fearlessness and determination inspired Bersten in ways he never expected. Moreover, it made their run on the show one of the most fulfilling experiences of his career.

Their dynamic even has them eyeing future challenges together. Maher playfully suggested, “Do you know anyone at Amazing Race, and you can put Alan and I on that?” While she had doubts about how they’d fare, Bersten had no hesitation. He stated, “We want to do Amazing Race!” The competitive fire that the duo brought to the stage has indeed left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans.