Team USA Rugby Player Ilona Maher Says 'Dancing With the Stars' Patner Alen Bersten is 'Nicer' Than She Thought
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00:00I love it. Heels off. Yeah, I have to get used to wearing
00:03heels though, because I think we're going to practice in
00:05heels. He's let me practice in sneakers for the first two, but
00:07I think he's gonna start, you know, telling me I need to get
00:10ready for it. So I'm so excited for this pairing. What were your
00:14first impressions of one another?
00:16Honestly, I feel like I won the lottery. Ilona is awesome. We
00:20have so much fun rehearsals. She works so hard. I legit cannot
00:24ask for anything else. Every time someone's like, who's your
00:27dream partner? I'm like Ilona. And here she is. I'm so so
00:32lucky.
00:33I'm excited. I wanted Alan because I had seen that he can
00:36be tough on his partners, which is scary. But also I've always
00:39responded well to that with coaching and whatnot and how
00:42I've grown up with that sort of guidance. So I think it'll be
00:46good for me in a way. He's actually nicer, though. I think
00:49he's gotten better. But I am excited to have a partner like
00:51him. We vibe off each other really well. I think he again,
00:56he allows me to express myself and really wants me to I think
00:58he sees the value in that personality and showing myself
01:00on the dance floor as well. So it's a good environment to
01:02thrive in.
01:03I want Ilona to be Ilona. You know, I don't want her to just
01:07be a ballroom dancer. I just she's so special. And I want
01:10America to see that.
01:12What's the training process been like? Obviously, you train
01:15completely different than this. So what's what's more difficult?
01:18Here's the deal. We learn a step. And then we do that step
01:22200 times. And then we add on a step and then we do that
01:25step 200 times. And then we just put the pieces together.
01:28And there's like, so many little fixes. It's like, okay, now you
01:31did that, right? But can you add the hand? Okay, you did this the
01:34hand, right? But can you add this? So it's like adding these
01:36pieces on this puzzle pieces to make the full thing.
01:39I will say though, you saw the video of yourself. Were you
01:43impressed? I was impressed.
01:44I do. We took a video of me dancing. I've been all weekend.
01:46I'm like,
01:50I am. I am excited to see what I can do.
01:53What do you think about Steven being here? Another Olympian?
01:56Big competition for you?
01:58Hey, specialist.
02:01I am excited. I'm excited to see his personality. He's the
02:03sweetest guy. And I think athletes in general seem to
02:08really do well is what everyone keeps saying. So him, Dwight,
02:11Danny, I think we'll all be a little bit working to be the
02:13best.
02:14I mean, what a what a year it's been for you. You know, Olympics
02:17dancing with the stars Sports Illustrated. How would you kind
02:19of sum up what this these past couple months have been like for
02:22you?
02:23It's been like a whirlwind. But also I don't but in a way I
02:27don't feel that way. I feel very controlled with it. I think this
02:30is something that I've been preparing for. I, I've always
02:32posted on social media and shared myself in that way. And
02:34I've always loved to do that. So I don't find it to be crazy or
02:38hectic. I think I have a really great team behind me, my
02:40sisters and my agent. So they keep me really grounded. And I'm
02:44ready for this. I think I have, you know, a great partner now.
02:46So I think it'll all be good.
02:48I think the one word I'll describe Ilona is genuine. And
02:52it's, it's so nice that, you know, when she is on social
02:56media, she's preaching such a good message. And this is such a
02:59good platform for her. So I'm so excited.
03:02Where are you going to put that mirrorball trophy if you win?
03:04Around her neck.
03:06Right on top of the bronze medal. No, no, no. I'll put it
03:10somewhere for sure.