Ilona Maher Is Ready For A New Athletic Challenge everyone's buzzing they're like ready to go you're ready to go how you feeling uh I am ready getting ready I think I really am just excited that people know now and I think my teammates my family friends will really get me hyped for it because it's been weird to keep it to myself and I'm somebody who loves to share so this will be a great opportunity to share myself more with people yeah what made you want to be a part of this season um I think it's a great time to do I feel like it's almost a write of passage for some Olympians you know like Simone BS has done it even Sun Lee did it so for me it's right of passage I think I want to test myself in a different way and get out of my comfort zone CU this is way out of my comfort zone you bring up a good point did you get any advice from Simone um I'll I'll get her some she'll she'll be out maybe no probably not but you know I think it's just so cool like the different sports I don't know if we've ever had a rugby player on so a little different first first I think you're the first yeah how's she doing so far she's awesome I'm so lucky like I feel so blessed it's truly Alona is so special she tries so hard she's killing it we're having so much fun and I can't ask for anything else you were having a crazy summer so the Olympics now this also the sports illust sports illustrator let's go Sports Illustrated it's whatever it's whatever it's been a cool summer but it's been a busy summer um but I think also I'm just tring to do all the opportunities while I can do them while it's hot right now and fresh so so cool this came up this part's Illustrated there's so many different platforms to show myself and you know show other young girls what I do what it means to be strong and beautiful so it's been a really really fun summer there is a clip from that shoot that went viral you're wearing a onesie one shoulder oh yes with my titto to put it politely yeah yeah yeah that one was really fun it's just it's those moments where I get to express my personality and and people capture it and I think we'll really get to see that on this show as well so you so much fun Having Fun With Fans On Social Media on social media like what is it like you just seem to have no hesitation what do you love about being a part of that community and talking to your fans um I think it's just so cool to get people to see like the real life of anathy the real life a person you know cuz Olympians they put us on a pedestal but I think I'm just very normal and I say dumb stuff sometimes and he's learning like I just say a lot of dumb stuff or I say funny stuff I say a lot more dumb stuff she's saying a lot of dumb stuff in the studio but we're going to use it leverage it to our our best interest absolutely um and we have a great lineup this year you got out of competition but everyone's really excited to see anad Delby out there what are your thoughts on her joining that's crazy but honestly she's so cool to talk to we had some good with her so everyone's really really fun the cast is incredible they did a great job so we're excited to meet everyone get to know everyone and just have fun all together last time we Stephen Nedoroscik Enjoying Every Second Of DWTS talked to you we suggested you know or talked about potentially dancing the Stars you said you were in a few short weeks later here we are how you feeling so excited I mean this is awesome I'm enjoying every second of it have you guys already started a rehearsal yes we have started a rehearsal and he is killing it he is seriously the best yeah okay so so far what's hard harder the Olympics or the dance floor so far the Olympics are still harder than the dance floor but the dance floor is kicking my but and I've only done three workouts so we got plenty left here gosh we have another Olympian on the lineup a connect with Alana and um she said that you know there's Simone biles just's many other Olympians have done this before have you gotten any advice from other athletes uh like in general yeah how to do how to process with dancing and the stuff with the Stars I haven't gotten any advice yet but I have people that I can reach out to if I feel I need advice but right now I'm just enjoying every second of it I think we're doing well so that's a good thing but if I ever feel like dang I'm hitting a wall I have people to reach out to what was the first thing you taught him how to what to do or how to do I first saw him some Drive kicks and I was kick yes like kicks but he did really good and I was just like so impressed with his letic ISM and he came in he was determined he wanted to work hard and I was like that's all I need in a partner truly love it what does your girlfriend think about this next Journey Dancing with the Stars she excited super excited she's so she's so excited she just can't wait to see you know how well I can dance I'm sure pretty well I mean like you said the athleticism like it's all it all click into place hopefully we'll figure it out right my gosh for each of you what is your pump up song like what do you use to get ready to hit the dance floor I don't even know how to pronounce it it's that new Childish Gambino song it's like yoya or something I think I might have just butchered it I mean I'm not going to get into it but it's a good song I people no it's a hard thing to hum it is a hard thing to hum hey hey we'll get there eventually oh my go and then lastly here who are we going to expect to see in the stands cheering you guys on uh well immediately both I have three aunts their favorite show is dancing the star so they are just you know over the moon excited that I'm on it so I'm going to have them and then also my Olympic teammates are going to be in La for a little bit so I'm really hoping I'll be able to get them to the show but they might be too busy but fingers crossed they can cheer me on what about you just my whole family all my amazing sisters my parents they come pretty much for every show and they came last season for me so I'm so excited I forgot I Who's The Biggest Competition This Season? apologize we have a great lineup of folks here who do you think is the biggest competition who should we look out for ooh honestly all of them bring something so different to the table a lot of them have amazing personalities a lot of them have good stage present some people can really dance so I think we're just going to have to see after the first episode yeah thought everyone's really excited about Anna delie joining are you have you been able to connect with her yet what are your thoughts on her joining I did talk to her and she's very nice that's all I have to say I enjoy talking with her love it we potentially see the the pmel horse out on the dance floor at some point going to have to find out going to have to watch what a this I love it that's so good thank you guys so much nice to meet you both congrats on 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