Ilona Maher's dance partner Alan Bersten reacts to being a part of the latest season's DWTS finale line-up amid new year celebrations

Ilona Maher's DWTS dance partner Alan Bersten has shared a group photo from the reality show's finale and wished a happy New Year to fans. The two clinched the runner-up position in the final of the 33rd Dancing with the Stars season.

Following her success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Maher participated in the reality show, partnered with professional dancer Bersten. The pair blazed through episodes, winning praises with their performances and securing a spot in the top five for the showdown. They performed 'jive' and 'freestyle' in the final to walk home as the runners-up.

Months later, Bersten shared the official photo of the final pairs, decked up in black, posted on DWTS' Instagram handle with the caption:

"Best finale ever! Happy New Year!!"

Screengrab of Alan Bersten's Instagram story - @alanbersten

In his year-end note of gratitude, Bertsen shouted out Ilona Maher. He was also grateful for his new puppy, Jeff.

"I can’t put into words how special 2024 was for me! Not only did I have the best season ever with @ilonamaher and made a friend for life!! I also got @jeffbersten and truthfully I don’t know how I got so lucky.....I am so grateful and thankful for this incredible year and all the joy it’s brought me! I want to thank everyone who’s been there for me and just want to wish everyone reading this a very happy new year!"

Maher, a member of the US women's rugby sevens team that won the bronze at the 2024 Paris Games, won hearts and attention for her social media content surrounding body positivity. The most followed rugby player encouraged women associated with masculine sports to embrace femininity and feel comfortable in their bodies.

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Ilona Maher hilariously introduced Alan Bersten as the 'new signing' of Bristol Bears

Ilona Maher at the Bristol Bears v Leinster - (Source: Getty)

Following her DWTS stint, Ilona Maher signed with the Premiership Women's Rugby team Bristol Bears. On December 16, 2024, ahead of the 2025 Dancing with the Stars Tour, the rugby player welcomed another "new signing" of the Bears team, Alan Bersten.

In the video, Maher and Bertsen donned Bears jerseys, and she hilariously listed the positives and negatives of Bersten before he took the field in PWR.

"Hey Bears, we got a new signing for you... It's going to be great. Positives, he's really light at his feet, negatives never played a contact sport in his life. Positives, great at learning routines, negatives, doesn't know any of the laws of rugby. But I think we can really make some magic happen."

Maher signed with the Bristol Bears in a three-year contract, vying to earn a qualification in the 2025 World Cup.