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American rugby superstar Ilona Maher shot to stardom at the Paris Olympics and her personality as a social media figure has made her stand out since.
Paris Olympics rugby sevens bronze medalist Ilona Maher feels she is not the best player in the world but has one unique trait that makes her stand out.
Despite being fast and strong, she believes she still has a long way to reach dizzying heights. "I'm amazing at rugby, but realistically I'm maybe not the best at it, which is fine," she told Rugby Union Weekly. "But I have something else I can bring, which is personality," she added.
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14:41 - 04.12.2024
'She's going to be devastating' - Bristol Bears coach Dave Ward warns rival as Ilona Maher signs with the English club
The American is one of the star rugby players in the world and moving to England will only be proper for her to cement her status.
The 28-year-old is a social media figure with 4.5 million Instagram followers and 3.2 million on TikTok. She is the biggest rugby player ever, of either gender, online, thanks to funny, sassy posts advocating for femininity in all forms, body positivity and Olympic village flirting.
She has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated and profiled by Forbes. In the past few months, she has been taking part in Dancing with the Stars, finishing second.
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14:15 - 05.12.2024
'Bigger than the sport right now' - American Rugby star Ilona Maher tipped for greatness by Bristol Bears teammate
Ilona Maher has signed with the Bristol Bears team and is already having an impact despite not playing.
The American signed a three-month deal with Premiership Women's Rugby side Bristol Bears on December 2 but is expected to feature for the team from January 2025. Bristol Bears coach Dave Ward said English Rugby is not ready for the impact Maher will have on the pitch. "She's going to shock people when she plays 15s. I think she is going to be devastating. She is someone with the pace of (England and Ealing Trailfinders wing) Abby Dow," Ward told BBC.
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