One of the best things about the Olympics is that every time the world championships begin, a breakout star is born. Every four years, the world sees a new star in a sport it’s never seen before.
A star has been born in the world of women’s rugby in the United States. Meet Ilona Maher, a US women’s rugby sevens player. All she does is slam opposing rugby players into the dirt.
Maher is a modern-day superhero, slinging the ball past defenders with speed and power, making them look foolish in the process. So who is the rugby star on this U.S. team that’s dominating Paris and making them look cool in the process?
Maher, 27, is a native of Burlington, Vermont, and started playing rugby at age 17. ParentsMaher played field hockey, basketball, and soccer before her father got her into rugby (he played rugby at St. Michael’s College). She was a three-time All-American and 2017 Player of the Year at Norwich and Quinnipiac universities. She’s an incredible athlete, with strong arms that push opponents off the field, similar to Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry. If I could be dribbled like that, I’d never play the sport again.
This is like my morning shot of espresso: after watching Maher smash his opponents, I’m ready to run through a brick wall.
Not only that, Maher’s also a social media superstar, with 1.4 million followers on Instagram and 1.6 million on TikTok, where she showcases her incredibly funny and authentic personality and athleticism. Maher spoke to The Guardian about brand building and how it can help a lesser-watched Olympic sport like rugby.
“It’s really important to have a profile for our sport,” Maher said. “It’s about building a brand. We are women’s rugby players. We don’t have multimillion-dollar contracts or get paid what we should. My friends and I are really keen to get the sport out there and get noticed. In the US, where other sports get all the attention, it’s important. And I think it’s important to show the individuality of women. The game is hugely popular with women as well as men.”
Maher first began using her platform during the Tokyo Olympics, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she invited her followers to visit the Olympic Village (virtually, of course) and used her social media following to drive awareness of the sport. During her time in Paris, her content was informative and funny, and it helped boost viewership of rugby sevens.
Maher is using her platform not just to promote herself, but to bring attention to topics like body positivity and rugby sevens awareness, which is super cool. She uses her game (which is super cool) to draw people in, and once they’re engaged, she also shows off her authentic personality.
If you want to follow the women’s rugby sevens team, the U.S. will face Great Britain in the quarterfinals today at 3:30 PM EST. If the U.S. wins, they’ll advance to the semifinals, which begin on July 30. Get ready to watch your favorite Olympians crush the British — it’s an American tradition.
