Ilona Maher, a renowned American rugby union player, has been facing several allegations claiming that she is trans since the 2024 Paris Olympic games.
The 28 year-old rugby player has been criticized by netizens for her body.
Furthermore, many people are body-shaming Ilona Maher, claiming her to be masculine and assuming that she is trans.
Highlights
- Ilona Maher, the renowned rugby player, has been facing criticism for her physique.
- She talked about the false allegations of people claiming her to be trans because of her masculine body.
- Ilona began her rugby career at the very young age of 17, inspired by her father.
In response to several hate comments and criticism, the Olympic bronze medalist Ilona Maher shared an emotional video talking about the attacks and body shaming on her.
Likewise, Ilona Maher breaks her silence about the false allegation that claims that she is trans.
In the video, she stated,
“There will always be negative comments, people think of women should be fragile and petite and quite and meek but that’s not the case.“
Dr Sheree Bekker
Ilona Maher continued by saying that women can be strong, have broad shoulders, and be big and that one should not let anybody define or dictate how they feel about themselves, and only they get to decide.
Similarly, Ilona Maher often shares videos related to body positivity on her Tiktok, sharing her own story of facing criticism.
She also actively spreads awareness for body positivity in women’s sports and showcases her exceptional rugby skills, winning the hearts of millions.
Ilona Maher Began Playing Rugby From A Very Young Age!
Ilona Maher’s family encouraged her to play sports from a very young age, including Little League softball.
Moroever, she began playing rugby for the South Burlington School Rugby Football Club at 17.
Before that, she played several sports at Burlington High School, including hockey, basketball, and soccer.
Inspired by her athlete father, Maher joined the Quinnipiac Bobcats rugby team, where she played center and won three National Intercollegiate Rugby Association championships.
She also received several awards, including the MA Sorensen Award, and was named outstanding player at the NIRA Championships in 2017.
Ilona Maher also appeared at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where she played rugby sevens.
Similarly, Maher represented the United States at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town. In August 2024, she also posed for the cover of the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated.
Additional Information
- Ilona Maher was born on August 12, 1996, to father Michael and mother Mieneke Maher in Burlington, Vermont, United States.
- Her mother, Mieneke, is a Dutch native and nurse, whereas her father, Michael, played rugby for Saint Michael’s College.
- Ilona has two siblings, Olivia and Adriana; she is the middle of the three sisters.
- She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Quinnipiac University and a master’s degree in business administration from DeVry University.
