Ilona Maher partner: social media debut,Wife,Height&Weight

Women’s rugby sevens player Ilona Maher has said she is trying to do what many female Olympians can’t – make a living from her sport. Today we will discuss about Ilona Maher partner: social media debut,Wife,Height&Weight,Jersey.

Ilona Maher partner: social media debut,Wife,Height&Weight,Jersey

Ilona Maher may not have the professional resume of Australia’s Madison Levy, Great Britain’s Ellie Kildun or New Zealand’s Portia Woodman-Wickliffe. But the 27-year-old from Vermont is certainly one of the biggest stars of the Olympic women’s rugby sevens competition, which begins at the Stade de France on Sunday, at least among those under 30.

One of the breakout social media personalities of the Tokyo Games three years ago, Maher has amassed more than 1.4 million followers on Instagram and 1.6 million followers on TikTok, a combined reach far greater than more established U.S. Olympic stars like Katie Ledecky and Noah is more. Lyles. And these figures have increased in just three days after the start of the Paris Games.

“First of all, it was a way to get my message out there, a way to get my team out there,” Maher said of his team’s hustle on Saturday. “Especially in Tokyo, it [encouraged] people to connect with our sport, to take a look at our sport. Then, personally, it’s become a brand-building thing. I’m a female athlete in a sport that’s not very big, especially in America. This is not a game to make money… I want to make sports my career and I don’t think many women can think like that.

Social media has proven to be a great equalizer in an attention economy, where athletes who have dedicated their lives to sports that don’t make you rich or famous can break through the white noise and showcase their Can raise the profile.

Few have managed this better than Maher, who has leveraged such reach into deals with brands like Secret, L’Oréal and New Era that most TV networks would envy. She has also partnered with former college swimmer Ann Ragan Kearns to launch a skincare line called Medalist.

social media debut

“It’s really important to have a profile and a profile for our sport,” Maher said. “It’s about building a brand. We’re women’s rugby players – we’re not getting million dollar contracts, we’re not getting as much money as we should be.

My friends and I are eager to take the game forward and make our mark. This is important in America where so much attention is given to other sports. And I think it’s just about showing the individuality of women. This game is very empowering not only for men, but also for women.”

Maher played field hockey, basketball and softball in high school, but switched to rugby at the age of 17 when he felt he enjoyed it more than his other chosen sports. She went on to play at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing, before joining the U.S. national team ahead of the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics.

The Eagles finished sixth there, but Maher’s light-hearted presentation on life in the Olympic village for athletes, which invited his followers behind the scenes, made him one of the social media revelations of the fortnight and earned him ten increased by several times.

His recent viral hits since touching down in Paris include an ode to team handball, a stress test of cardboard beds in the village and a Love Island-inspired clip about finding a romantic partner during the Summer Games.

But it’s Maher’s promotion of positive body image that has most helped set her channel apart. “I want you all to take a look at the different types of bodies on display,” Maher said in a clip posted during Friday’s inauguration ceremony, which has been viewed more than 4 million times.

“All body types matter. All body types are eligible. From the shortest gymnast to the tallest volleyball player, from a rugby player to a shot-putter, to a sprinter. All body types are beautiful and can do amazing things.

Wife

Jason Kelce went to watch the US women’s rugby sevens team at the Olympics in Paris and left as an honorary super fan.

The recently retired Philadelphia Eagles center and his wife Kylie met with rugby social media celebrity Ilona Maher and the US women’s sevens team after their opening two matches at the Stade de France.

The NFL veteran, wearing a very French-looking beret and a blue, skin-tight American rugby shirt, engaged in an arm wrestling match with teammate Nicole Haviland, which was shared on Instagram, and an instant recruitment Joined Maher for the post.
Maher introduced Kelsey the idea of ​​becoming an official super fan and told her that she would not receive any money or benefits, but all she had to do was say the words and the job was hers.

Ilona Maher partner: social media debut,Wife,Height&Weight,Jersey

It was a sales pitch he couldn’t resist.
Kelce also attended the women’s field hockey match between the United States and Argentina on Saturday, capping a busy weekend at the Paris Games.

The U.S. women won their two matches against Japan and Brazil on Sunday before advancing to the Kelces, but suffered a tough 31-14 loss to host France on Monday afternoon before the night’s quarterfinal against Britain.

Maher, who scored the opening try against France, said she had previously linked up with Kylie Kelce and “so to get her and bring Jason with her, I was really excited to see her.”

Maher said, “It’s really cool because Kylie and I have chatted before. She’s a really nice lady and she does a lot for the women’s game.” Having Jason there was a bonus “But you know… he’s a dad of a girl. He’s someone who supports women’s sports.

“So it was really nice of him to support us.”

Height & Weight

Jersey

While Maher is a social self-taught person who learned quickly even when bored, there is no shortage of Olympians hoping to follow her path. Visa offered more than 100 athletes across its endorsement portfolio a masterclass in digital storytelling and engagement ahead of the Olympics led by influencers and social media creators, including guidance on digital storytelling and advice on managing pitfalls such as online abuse Was.

But unlike specific sports, the harsh truth is that some things cannot be trained.

Ilona Maher partner: social media debut,Wife,Height&Weight

Despite Maher’s success as a creator, there were signs on Sunday that his performances on the field may be on par with his social status. In the United States’ 36–7 defeat of Japan, Maher made a single-handed push off a defender at the tryline, the highlight of the match.

Later, he scored another long effort in the second half to help lead the Americans to a 24-5 win over Brazil, which put them 2-0 in pool play and securing their spot in Monday’s quarterfinals. took.

When later told that recently retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce was in attendance, Maher told reporters that she hoped to recruit him as a statewide promoter for the game. “Hopefully, he can see that rugby sevens is not so different from football and he can pay a little attention to it in America,” she said.

Before leaving the stadium, she had already cornered him for a video that, to no one’s surprise, had been viewed more than 2 million times on Monday morning. For the indomitable Maher, who has admitted to spending up to six hours a day on TikTok, it’s all a day’s work. “Do I want to have to do this?” He said. “No, but I like what it’s done for me.”