Ilona Maher is having the time of her life at the Paris Olympics, and it’s seemingly because women’s rugby is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
After Maher hit a filthy stiff arm during this year’s games, word began to spread about Team USA’s women’s rugby sevens team. Their popularity even caught the eye of Jason Kelce, who was in France to watch the Olympics. Kelce eventually hooked up with Ilona and the team, promising to be a super fan, and the rest was history.
Maher took that momentum with her as Team USA battled Australia during an electric bronze medal game that ended in unbelievable walk-off fashion. The moment was so incredible that you couldn’t have scripted it if you tried. So, it’s only fitting that Ilona’s post-match speech about Team USA’s journey felt like it was straight out of a movie.
Here’s some of what she shared with tears in her eyes:
“In rugby, we say we’re just passing through the jersey and making the jersey better, and that’s always been my goal — to make this jersey better. Not just for me but for the other girls that are gonna come into the program.”
“And I want them to dream of being professional athletes. That’s what I feel like I’m giving them. Even if this is my last rugby game, I hope that there’s space for them to grow and thrive and that they experience this [because] I got to.”
@nbcwashington You made that jersey better, @ilonamaher If you missed it, the U.S. women’s rugby team had a stunning finish over Australia at the #ParisOlympics – nabbing their first Olympic rugby sevens medal ever. #ParisOlympics2024 #Paris2024 #olympics #rugbyunion #RugbySevens #rugby #TeamUSA @usarugby
Ilona also spoke about competing for her family and how “broken” she was after losing in her last Olympic competition, and I am now entirely unwell.
Not to be dramatic, but I would run through a brick wall for Ilona Maher.
