'DWTS' Ilona Maher on Biggest Competition Going Into Season
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00:00From Paris to the Emmys, how does that feel?
00:03It has been a hectic few months.
00:06I don't even know what day it is, honestly.
00:08But it's been so fun.
00:09And doing so much is just a blessing.
00:11It's a lot, but it's been really, really life-changing.
00:15It must be so crazy going from the sports world to Hollywood.
00:19Talk to me about that.
00:20I know that you're also a correspondent tonight as well.
00:24How did you prepare for all of that
00:26and immerse yourself in this world?
00:29It was tough, because it's a different thing.
00:31It's like performing, putting on a smile,
00:34and having this energy about you.
00:35Whereas rugby, it's very physical,
00:37showing how you are through how you play and whatnot.
00:40So I prepared by looking over pictures, learning people.
00:45And I'm honestly just going to try
00:46to talk to them in a normal way, because I
00:48don't know what else to ask.
00:50Is it nice getting to use a different part of your brain,
00:52I guess?
00:53It's hard.
00:54I think I'm going to ease into it,
00:55because right now I have the same question like,
00:57how did it feel?
00:58So I hope I learn and get more natural with it.
01:00Just try to get to know them.
01:02You'll nail it.
01:02You're doing great.
01:03And congratulations on Dancing with the Stars.
01:05What are you looking forward to most being on that show?
01:08I hope I learn to dance.
01:10And just like the people I've met,
01:12I mean, it seems like a really great environment,
01:14just the work environment, people you meet.
01:16So I just hope I get to learn so much
01:18and also really leave with some great friends.
01:20Coming off of the Olympics, what drew
01:22you to Dancing with the Stars and made you want
01:24to sign on to that project?
01:25You know, there was a new challenge,
01:27and I think rugby is my comfort zone.
01:29And it scared me.
01:30But this is something so new, getting out.
01:31And I'm always telling girls to go try something new.
01:33So for me, it was like, try rugby.
01:35And try rugby, so I'm going to try dance.
01:37And it's really been, it's tough.
01:39But I'm excited to see how far I go.
01:41Do you feel like you have an advantage, maybe,
01:43because you're an athlete at all?
01:44Everyone keeps asking me that.
01:45Rugby is so different than dance.
01:46No.
01:47100%.
01:47I mean that in like a joking way.
01:49Not at all.
01:50No.
01:50Who do you think is your biggest competition?
01:53I think Dwight Howard has such a charisma about him.
01:55And he'll probably have some great dance moves.
01:58Even Chandler is just so much, such a great dancer.
02:03Technically sound.
02:04So I think they're all going to bring something.
02:06I think it's about how you perform
02:08and how you do it on the day.
02:09So we'll see.
02:10And how has the preparation been?
02:13It's long.
02:13It's four hours a day of dancing, pointing my toes,
02:15shifting my weight, smiling.
02:17So it's different than what I'm used to.
02:19But, and it's a lot more time to go.
02:23But I'm learning.
02:24And I love my partner.
02:25So it works out.
02:26Has anyone given you any advice prior to the season?
02:30You know, I didn't want any advice.
02:31I just wanted to kind of go into it fresh with my own experience
02:34and make my own ideas about it.