Since her rise to fame as Team USA’s most popular rugby player, Paris 2024 bronze medalist Ilona Maher has become a fan favorite. Despite having no experience with dancing, the athlete has won fans’ hearts time and again, avoiding elimination and reaching a significant milestone in Dancing with the Stars history. Yet, despite reaching episode 500 as a contestant, Maher had a bittersweet update for her fans.

Maher uploaded a video from the DWTS stage in a two-piece dress while dancing to Defying Gravity by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. “Who’s ready for the 500th episode of @dancingwiththestars tonight?!?” she asked the fans. However, Maher revealed she and Chandler Kinney are the only two women remaining in season 33 in a previous video.

Ilona Maher uploaded a video from the DWTS locker room, where she and Chandler Kinney were getting their hair done. While the two playfully greeted one another in the video, the accompanying text seemed a little less cheerful. “When you’re the only two lady stars left on the show,” revealed the 28-year-old. “Holdin’ it down for the girlies,” Maher added in the caption.

Season 33 started with six men and seven women contestants. However, among the contestants heading into episode 500, the men outnumber the women. Chandler Kinney who has made it so far with her DWTS Pro partner Brandon Armstrong also connected on Maher’s post. “It’s you and me, girly,” commented Kinney with a ‘fingers crossed’ emoji on Maher’s Instagram post.

However, she wasn’t the only one who felt cautiously optimistic ahead of the milestone episode. The rugby seven player’s fans commented on her post, assuring the women they would have their support during voting. Comments such as “I’ll be voting for the women tonight!” filed the comment section. However, Ilona Maher’s story has been one of beating the odds.

How Ilona Maher continues to defy the odds

Social media fame for Ilona Maher initially felt like a double-edged sword. While many loved the rugby player for her quirky yet charming personality, there was no shortage of those who ridiculed her for having a muscular physique. Even after winning an Olympic medal, the critics didn’t relent when Maher graced the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit edition.

“I was always like, you know, called masculine…” she told Sports Illustrated. However, despite not fitting the so-called traditional beauty standards, Ilona Maher jumped at the opportunity to star in DWTS. Alongside fellow Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik, the 28-year-old didn’t just participate but became one of the show’s standout contestants.

In fact, Maher once again defied the odds, earning the ‘America’s sweetheart’ from DWTS fans. The love that Maher earned from the audience even surprised her. “You know it’s so funny cuz I don’t I would never picture, I guess, someone like me as America’s Sweetheart, but I will take that,” the athlete confessed to EXTRATV.

Ilona Maher had already spelled out her intentions to use the DWTS platform to inspire other women. “I want to now make it easier for young girls to love your body,” the Olympian told PEOPLE just before Season 33 kicked off. Hence, it’s not difficult to see why Maher is one of the two women who made it so far in the show. Who knows? Maybe Maher will surprise herself once more and even reach the finals.