Probably the greatest issues in regards to the Olympics is {that a} breakout star is born nearly each time the worldwide video games start. Each 4 years, the world is launched to a star in a sport they might not have watched earlier than.
For the USA, a star is being born in girls’s rugby. Enable me to introduce you to Ilona Maher, US Girls’s Rugby Sevens participant. All that she does is solely put opposing rugby gamers within the freaking DIRT.
Maher is a contemporary superhero, bowling previous defenders with velocity and energy, whereas making them look foolish within the course of. So who is that this rugby star on Group USA, plowing by Paris and making it look cool within the course of?
The 27-year-old Maher is from Burlington, VT and started enjoying rugby on the age of 17. In response to The Guardian, Maher performed area hockey, basketball and soccer rising up earlier than her father received her to attempt rugby (her father performed rugby at Saint Michael’s School). In school, at each Norwich College and Quinnipiac College, Maher was a three-time All-American and the 2017 Participant of the 12 months. She’s an athletic marvel, blasting previous gamers with a stiff arm that’s similar to Baltimore Ravens’ RB Derrick Henry. If I received dribbled like this I wouldn’t decide up the game ever once more.
This is sort of a shot of espresso within the morning. I’m able to run by a brick wall after watching Maher destroy opponents.
Not solely that, Maher has been a celebrity on social media. She has 1.4 million Instagram followers and 1.6 million followers on TikTok, showcasing her extremely humorous and genuine character in addition to her athleticism. Maher spoke to the Guardian about constructing a model and the way it helps lesser watched Olympic sports activities like rugby within the large image:
“It’s actually necessary to have a profile, and a profile for our sport,” Maher stated. “It’s about constructing the model. We’re feminine rugby gamers – we’re not getting million greenback contracts, we’re not getting paid the cash that we must be. Me and my mates are eager on getting the game on the market and getting us seen. It’s necessary within the US the place a lot consideration is on different sports activities. And I feel it’s nearly exhibiting the character that the ladies have. The sport may be very robust, not only for males, however for ladies too.”
Maher first started utilizing her platform through the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas on the Tokyo Olympics. She invited followers into the Olympic village (nearly, in fact) and drew extra consideration to the game utilizing her social media following. Whereas in Paris, her content material has been each informational and hilarious, bringing extra individuals to look at rugby sevens:
Maher utilizing her platform not solely to indicate herself off, however carry consideration to subjects reminiscent of physique positivity and consciousness to rugby sevens is tremendous cool. She makes use of her play (which is badass) to carry individuals in, and after they’re in she exhibits off the genuine character as nicely.
If you wish to observe the Girls’s rugby sevens staff, the US will likely be taking over Nice Britain within the quarterfinals later immediately at 3:30 PM EST, and in the event that they win they’ll go to the semis which start on July 30. Go and watch your new favourite Olympian steamroll some British individuals. It’s an American custom.
