Ilona Maher Makes Scary Confession Involving DWTS Partner After Announcing Official Retirement

For Dancing with the Stars fans, the electric chemistry between Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher and her pro dancer partner in Season 33 was pure magic. Their runner-up finish left viewers buzzing, and now, the duo is back in the spotlight, reuniting for Maher’s podcast House of Maher on April 15, 2025, to spill behind-the-scenes tea. But it’s Maher’s jaw-dropping confession about her early fears of Alan Bersten that’s got fans talking. From terror to trust, their journey was a rollercoaster of heart-pounding lifts and hard falls. How did this rugby powerhouse and ballroom veteran turn initial dread into one of DWTS’s most iconic partnerships?

Well, Ilona Maher, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound rugby phenom, stepped into the glitzy DWTS ballroom, paired with Alan Bersten, a seasoned pro known for his tough coaching style. In a candid moment on her podcast, Maher admitted on her podcast House of Maher, “I was very scared.”, reflecting on her initial lack of trust in her dance partner Bersten during lifts. Coupled with the awareness of her distinct physique, as she thought, “You know, like, I’m a different body type than all the other partners you’ve had,” she said. But was she wary of any other, too?

“I had heard rumors you could be tough on your partners,” she revealed, on hearing rumors that Bersten could be a demanding partner. Bersten, 30, wasn’t oblivious to the challenge either, admitting he hoped Maher’s vibrant personality would make their grueling five-hour daily sessions fun. Yet, Maher’s fear wasn’t just about Bersten’s reputation—she worried her lack of dance experience would let him down. What would it take for these two to find common ground?

 Maher, embracing her unique physique, became the first female contestant to lift her male partner, flipping Bersten twice in a move that left judges and fans roaring. But the road to that moment was paved with fear. “We have to do a lot of practice,” Maher said, acknowledging the hours spent perfecting the lift.

Bersten was initially terrified, with Maher noting, “There’s some videos of him going down hard.” One brutal fall prompted Bersten to quip, “Great, great stuff. Ow! Um, I think my elbow’s out.” Yet, after nailing the lift, Bersten’s fear turned to glee: “He liked it though once he got lifted the first time he’s like ‘This is really funny.’” Maher’s trust in Bersten grew, as she later shared, “I grew to trust him.” Their bond shone through, and this trust translated to their overall DWTS success. 

Ilona Maher bid farewell to the stage

On April 6, 2025, Ilona Maher announced her retirement from dance with her signature humor, posting an Instagram video that declared, “After careful consideration, I have decided to retire from dance. I am a fresh-old dancer. You all know this. Um, never said was a good one, but I am a pro. I think I gotta hang up my dancing shoes.”

The announcement came after her final Dancing with the Stars Live tour performances in Phoenix and Los Angeles, wrapping up on April 5, 2025. In an interview with PEOPLE, Maher described the decision as “tough,” noting that DWTS challenged her in ways rugby never did. “Dance pushed me out of my comfort zone,” she said, reflecting on the discipline and vulnerability it demanded. What did this transition mean for Maher’s future?

Maher’s retirement marked a return to her first love—rugby—while opening new doors with her podcast House of Maher, co-hosted with her sisters. Speaking to PEOPLE, she shared, “I found joy in the challenge, but my heart is on the rugby pitch.” The DWTS experience, though, left a lasting impact, teaching her resilience and the power of embracing her unique strength, as seen in her historic lifts with Bersten. As she gears up for the 2025 Rugby World Cup with the Bristol Bears, Maher carries forward the confidence gained from the ballroom. “Dance taught me so much,” she told, emphasizing how it amplified her body positivity advocacy. With fans still buzzing about her DWTS run, how will Maher’s dance legacy inspire her next chapter?