Ilona Maher conquered the world of rugby and social media! The Olympic champion has become an icon of the Paris Olympic Games
31 july 2024 в 02:37
Ilona Maher has conquered the world of rugby — and social media! The Olympic champion went viral thanks to her athletic career and sincere videos on TikTok. With millions of followers on her TikTok and Instagram accounts, the 27-year-old athlete has become the latest icon of the Paris Olympics.
«I knew that if I continued to behave this way, I would attract people’s attention on TikTok, and they would also follow my sport», - she told NBC News in an interview.
Here are five facts about the women’s rugby sevens player:
In high school, Ilona played for the South Burlington School rugby-football club. Previously, she participated in several sports during her time at Burlington High School, including basketball and soccer.
Never give up. Take up space. Be yourself. Love, Ilona.
In 2021, the athlete competed in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which were postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During her performance in Tokyo, Ilona made several videos on social media about her time in the Olympic village. Among the most popular clips were jokes about flirting with other Olympians, doing burpees on cardboard beds, and much more.
In 2024, Ilona returned to the Olympic stage in Paris, representing the women’s rugby sevens team.
Originally from Burlington, Vermont, Ilona attended Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, where she studied nursing. She graduated from university in 2018.
Four years after earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing, Ilona studied business administration at DeVry University to obtain a master’s degree.
Although Ilona is known for her wit in her social media videos, her focus on a positive attitude towards her body has garnered more support. Sharing her thoughts on body shaming in a TikTok video in 2022, the rugby player said through tears: «There will always be negative people who put women in a box and believe that women should be fragile, small, quiet, and submissive, but that’s not true. Women can be strong, have broad shoulders, take up space, and be big».
The caption to the viral video urged women to «Never give up. Take up space. Be yourself»
«I knew that if I continued to behave this way, I would attract people’s attention on TikTok, and they would also follow my sport», - she told NBC News in an interview.
Here are five facts about the women’s rugby sevens player:
In high school, Ilona played for the South Burlington School rugby-football club. Previously, she participated in several sports during her time at Burlington High School, including basketball and soccer.
Never give up. Take up space. Be yourself. Love, Ilona.
In 2021, the athlete competed in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which were postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During her performance in Tokyo, Ilona made several videos on social media about her time in the Olympic village. Among the most popular clips were jokes about flirting with other Olympians, doing burpees on cardboard beds, and much more.
In 2024, Ilona returned to the Olympic stage in Paris, representing the women’s rugby sevens team.
Originally from Burlington, Vermont, Ilona attended Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, where she studied nursing. She graduated from university in 2018.
Four years after earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing, Ilona studied business administration at DeVry University to obtain a master’s degree.
Although Ilona is known for her wit in her social media videos, her focus on a positive attitude towards her body has garnered more support. Sharing her thoughts on body shaming in a TikTok video in 2022, the rugby player said through tears: «There will always be negative people who put women in a box and believe that women should be fragile, small, quiet, and submissive, but that’s not true. Women can be strong, have broad shoulders, take up space, and be big».
The caption to the viral video urged women to «Never give up. Take up space. Be yourself»
© Artemenko Olga
