“I was having a panic attack”: Ilona Maher shares what really happened backstage before her first DWTS dance

On July 11, 2025, Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher shared a heartfelt moment that surprised fans. Just days before the season 33 premiere of Dancing with the Stars, she experienced a panic attack.

In a new Instagram video, she stands under bright stage lights, breathing hard and fanning herself. But she still keeps a smile. The moment lasted only seconds, but it tells a bigger story about facing fear when millions are watching. What pushed her to dance despite feeling overwhelmed?

Ilona Maher’s panic attack during early rehearsal

In early September 2024, at a press day before filming began, Ilona Maher was on a live stage with her dance partner, pro Alan Bersten, preparing for the show’s first performance.

She wore a sparkly black dress and danced to Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO!”, but the fun moment quickly turned tense.

Maher confessed, “I was having a panic attack because they kept telling me to dance in front of a room full of people''. You can see her breath heavily and smiling as she pushed herself through the moment. Alan Bersten commented under the Instagram clip, “Ah I remember this day!!!”, to which Ilona Maher replied, “I was unwell”.The honest clip shows her courage in real time, reminding fans that star moments often come with real struggles.

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Ilona Maher’s journey on DWTS and life lessons

Ilona Maher, 28, used to play rugby with Team USA and won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Partnered with Alan Bersten on season 33, she wowed audiences and reached the finale on November 26, 2024, finishing as runner-up to Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson. Right after, she went on the show’s tour before announcing in April 2025 that she would step away from dancing, calling herself a “fresh‑old dancer”. She shared a funny clip saying, “If I never have to learn another step again, I’ll be happy”. In a People interview, Ilona Maher reflected, “I find joy on the rugby pitch… dance is very hard,” and said trying dance helped her learn about herself. This moment of panic shows the human side of a strong athlete and performer. Ilona Maher’s honesty reminds us that even champions face fear and push through.