Ilona Maher, Olympic rugby star from Vermont, to compete on 'Dancing with the Stars'

Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher is taking her talents to the ballroom.

The Burlington, Vermont native will be competing on the upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars."

The 28-year-old has propelled into stardom since the Paris Olympics this summer, where she won a bronze medal with the U.S. women's rugby sevens team.

She has also become known for her social media presence, which she uses to promote body positivity and empowerment. Most recently, she appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit's digital September issue.

Here's what to know about Maher's new gig and how to watch.

What Ilona Maher has said about 'Dancing with the Stars'

Vermont native Ilona Maher will be competing on the upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars" alongside professional partner Alan Bersten, an opportunity she called a "cool rite of passage."

"So many of my Olympic idols, from Simone Biles to Suni Lee, did 'Dancing.' And it's a new skill that gets me out of my comfort zone," Maher said in an interview with USA Today.

Maher, who has no formal dance experience, said that her skills on the pitch haven't translated to the ballroom yet.

"A lot of rugby is just going full force and throwing your body at (your opponent). So we'll see how I can move my body here," Maher said. "And my dance skills, I don't think, are really up to par. My dance-with-my-friends vibe skills are OK, my ballroom is zero. Hopefully, having-fun-with-my-friends vibes can translate into this ballroom."

The 28-year-old also said she's looking forward to ditching her rugby uniform.

"The glitz and glam is such a big part of this, and I love getting dressed up," Maher said. "It'll be really fun to wear more sparkles and more sequins."

How to watch Ilona Maher on 'Dancing with the Stars'

Olympian Ilona Maher will compete on the upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars" alongside other castmates with New England ties.

Fellow Olympian and Massachusetts native Stephen Nedoroscik, former New England Patriots star Danny Amendola and Bostonian "Bachelorette" Jenn Tran will also be on the new season of "DWTS."

The ABC competition reality show pairs celebrity contestants with professional dance partners, who compete each week with ballroom dances.

Season 33 of "Dancing With the Stars" premieres Sept. 17 on ABC and is available to stream on Disney Plus.

Who is Ilona Maher?

Ilona Maher is an Olympic medalist and professional rugby sevens player from Burlington, Vermont. She won a bronze medal in women's rugby sevens at the 2024 Paris Olympics, bringing home the first ever American medal in the event.

The 28-year-old is a graduate of Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, where she played rugby and studied nursing.

Maher grew up playing field hockey, basketball and softball and took up rugby when she was 17-years-old.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Ilona Maher to compete on 'Dancing with the Stars' Here's what to know