American rugby star Ilona Maher opened up about a stunt mishap on the 500th episode of Dancing With the Stars.
American rugby star Ilona Maher has addressed the mishap in her latest performance on Dancing With the Stars which aired during the milestone 500th episode.
The 28-year-old Olympian, fresh off a historic bronze medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is showing her versatility by stepping onto the dance floor this season, partnered with professional dancer Alan Bersten.
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Maher, who is renowned for her athleticism and powerful moves on the rugby field, found herself facing unexpected challenges in the latest episode’s instant dance round.
In this unique round, contestants were given just five minutes to prepare for a spontaneous performance.
Maher and Bersten were assigned a salsa routine set to "Da Dip" by Freak Nasty, a high-energy number that required quick thinking, swift moves, and, as it turned out, a tricky lift that became the highlight of the episode for all the wrong reasons.
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Reflecting on the moment in an interview with Entertainment News, Maher took full responsibility for the fumble that left her and her dance partner scrambling to recover in front of the audience.
“Everyone hated the lift, that’s my fault, did not feel that bad,” Maher admitted candidly.
“Here’s the thing, that was me, I didn’t land softly, and that’s my own fault. That’s my bad, that was my bad.”
She explained that the lift had not gone according to plan, attributing the misstep to her own difficulty in executing the move as gracefully as she’d hoped.
Despite the mishap, Maher revealed that the instant dance round was not as nerve-wracking as it may have appeared to viewers.
In fact, she seemed to approach the situation with a refreshing perspective.
“I honestly was not that panicked. I was actually having some fun,” she said, reflecting on the whirlwind of the round.
Maher’s comments highlighted her competitive spirit and her ability to take even challenging situations in stride, a quality that has no doubt served her well both on the rugby field and now in the ballroom.
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Her partner, Alan Bersten, also shared his thoughts on the unplanned element of the round.
“Honestly, it was nice, like we haven’t rehearsed; if you messed up, there’s a reason why you messed up,” he noted.
Bersten’s relaxed attitude towards the mishap provided a sense of camaraderie and understanding, allowing Maher to feel more comfortable owning up to the error.
Despite the unexpected slip in their routine, Maher had reason to celebrate by the end of the night.
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The episode marked her first perfect score of the season with the judges awarding her a coveted 10.
She and her team clinched the USA’s first-ever Olympic medal in rugby at the Paris Games securing a 14-12 victory over Australia in the bronze medal match.