Olympian Ilona Maher Makes Major Career Change After 'DWTS'

It’s only been a few days since she took home second place on Dancing With the Stars, and a few months since she brought home a bronze medal from the Paris Olympic games for rugby, but Ilona Maher is making big moves yet again.

The social media darling made a big announcement on Dec. 2, telling her fans about a career change that will take her to the United Kingdom.

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“I’m so excited to join the Bristol Bears and play premiership women’s rugby with and against some of the best rugby players in the world,” she said in a video posted on social media as she looked directly into the camera.

Maher said she’s “looking forward to calling Bristol home as we gear up for rugby world cup 2025 played here in England.” The women’s Bristol Bears team is currently ranked fourth in its league.

Maher, in her typical comedic fashion, also joked around in the announcement, first asking if grizzly bears are “the nice ones” and if black bears “are the mean ones” before pivoting and asking about the weather in England. “Is it going to be this cold the whole time? It’s a little chilly,” she teased.

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Congratulatory comments flooded into Maher’s social media, including from her Dancing With the Stars dance partner, Alan Bersten, who wrote “Let’s go!!!!!!! I’m so proud of you. And can’t wait to see you kill it.”

He continued to show support on another announcement from the team, which showed Maher wearing the official team uniform with an American flag draped around her shoulder. “We can probably rhinestone the cleats,” he teased.

More members of the DWTS family chimed in, including dancer Jenna Johnson and fellow contestant, model Brooks Nader, who both commented with an enthusiastic “YES” in all caps.

This season’s winner, Bachelor alum Joey Graziadei, wrote “LETS GOOOOO 💪🏽” in the comments. Actress and third place winner Chandler Kinney also shared the sentiment, commenting, “LETS GO LO!!!!!!!!! 🗣️.”

Next: Olympian Ilona Maher Makes Bold Declaration About Love Life After ‘DWTS’