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Ilona Maher

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Ilona Maher

Ilona Delsing Rosa Maher ( il-OH-nə MAR; born August 12, 1996) is an American rugby union player, social media personality, and reality television star. As of December 2024, she has signed for Bristol Bears in the Premiership Women's Rugby league and began playing for them in January 2025. She won bronze with the United States in rugby sevens at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Maher took up rugby at age 17, and went on to win three National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) championships as a college player at Quinnipiac University. After debuting in 2018, she represented the United States national team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2024 Paris Olympics. She is also known for her body positivity advocacy.

Infobox

2025
Bristol Bears
Full name
Ilona Delsing Rosa Maher
Born
(1996-08-12) August 12, 1996 (age 29)Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Height
5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight
198 lb (90 kg)
University
Quinnipiac University
Position(s)
Center, Prop (7s)
Current team
USA Eagles
Years
Team
2025–
United States
2018–2024
United States 7s
Women's rugby sevens
Medal record Women's rugby sevens Representing United States Olympic Games 2024 Paris Team competition

Tables

· In the media › <i>Dancing with the Stars</i>
Inaba
Inaba
Episode #
Inaba
Dance / Song
Hough
Theme
Guest
Judges' scores
Tonioli
1
1
Episode #
1
Dance / Song
Cha-cha / "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!"
Theme
Premiere
Judges' scores
6
Judges' scores
6
Judges' scores
6
Result
No elimination
2
2
Episode #
2
Dance / Song
Salsa / "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"
Theme
Oscars
Judges' scores
7
Judges' scores
7
Judges' scores
7
Result
Safe
3
3
Episode #
3
Dance / Song
Foxtrot / "Lady Marmalade"
Theme
Soul Train
Judges' scores
8
Judges' scores
7
Judges' scores
81
Judges' scores
7
Result
No elimination
4
4
Episode #
4
Dance / Song
Jive / "Come On, Feel the Noise"
Theme
Heavy Metal
Judges' scores
7
Judges' scores
6
Judges' scores
72
Judges' scores
6
Result
Safe
5
5
Episode #
5
Dance / Song
Rumba / "My Way"
Theme
Dedication
Judges' scores
8
Judges' scores
8
Judges' scores
83
Judges' scores
8
Result
Safe
6
6
Episode #
6
Dance / Song
Jazz / "Surface Pressure"Team Freestyle (Team Goofs) / "I 2 I"
Theme
Disney
Judges' scores
99
Judges' scores
89
Judges' scores
89
Result
Safe
7
7
Episode #
7
Dance / Song
Tango / "Psycho Killer"
Theme
Halloween Nightmares
Judges' scores
8
Judges' scores
8
Judges' scores
8
Result
Safe
8
8
Episode #
8
Dance / Song
Quickstep / "Chuck Berry"Instant Salsa / "Da' Dip"
Theme
500th Episode Celebration
Judges' scores
108
Judges' scores
98
Judges' scores
98
Result
Safe
9Semi-finals
9Semi-finals
Episode #
9Semi-finals
Dance / Song
Paso doble / "Unholy"Viennese waltz / "Golden Hour"
Theme
Semi-finals
Judges' scores
910
Judges' scores
109
Judges' scores
910
Result
No elimination
10Finals
10Finals
Episode #
10Finals
Dance / Song
Jive / "Shake a Tail Feather" Freestyle / "Femininomenon"
Theme
Finals
Judges' scores
910
Judges' scores
910
Judges' scores
910
Result
Runners-up
Episode #
Dance / Song
Theme
Judges' scores
Result
Inaba
Hough
Guest
Tonioli
1
Cha-cha / "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!"
Premiere
6
6
6
No elimination
2
Salsa / "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"
Oscars
7
7
7
Safe
3
Foxtrot / "Lady Marmalade"
Soul Train
8
7
81
7
No elimination
4
Jive / "Come On, Feel the Noise"
Heavy Metal
7
6
72
6
Safe
5
Rumba / "My Way"
Dedication
8
8
83
8
Safe
6
Jazz / "Surface Pressure"Team Freestyle (Team Goofs) / "I 2 I"
Disney
99
89
89
Safe
7
Tango / "Psycho Killer"
Halloween Nightmares
8
8
8
Safe
8
Quickstep / "Chuck Berry"Instant Salsa / "Da' Dip"
500th Episode Celebration
108
98
98
Safe
9Semi-finals
Paso doble / "Unholy"Viennese waltz / "Golden Hour"
Semi-finals
910
109
910
No elimination
10Finals
Jive / "Shake a Tail Feather" Freestyle / "Femininomenon"
Finals
910
910
910
Runners-up

References

  1. TODAY.com
    https://www.today.com/health/mind-body/ilona-maher-weight-bmi-rcna164081
  2. Paris 2024 Olympics
    https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/ilona-maher_1950498
  3. "Ilona Maher joins the PWR and signs for Bristol Bears"
    https://www.thepwr.com/news/global-star-ilona-maher-to-join-bears
  4. FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News
    https://fox5sandiego.com/2024-olympics/ilona-maher-won-a-bronze-medal-but-thats-not-what-earned-her-4-million-followers/
  5. www.stamfordadvocate.com
    https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/hdn/hrlm/p/callback.html
  6. Rugby World
    https://www.rugbyworld.com/players/who-is-ilona-maher-ten-things-you-should-know-about-the-usa-international-143218
  7. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/42740788/usa-star-ilona-maher-joins-britsol-bears-three-month-deal
  8. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit
    https://swimsuit.si.com/swimnews/watch-ilona-maher-send-inspiring-message-body-positivity-video
  9. DWTS
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2024/11/18/ilona-maher-dancing-with-the-stars-contestant/76409116007/
  10. Seven Days
    https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/burlington-born-rugby-player-and-social-media-influencer-ilona-maher-is-headed-back-to-the-olympics-40999892
  11. Life & Style
    https://www.lifeandstylemag.com/posts/ilona-maher-family-meet-the-olympians-parents-and-sisters/
  12. Table Magazine
    https://www.tablemagazine.com/girl-dinner/
  13. The Athletic
    https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6180792/2025/03/08/ilona-maher-rugby-olympics-family/
  14. Forbes
    https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyfrye/2023/06/07/is-ilona-maher-rugbys-most-exciting-player/
  15. "Ilona Maher"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20210227014945/https://www.teamusa.org/usa-rugby/athletes/Ilona-Maher
  16. Ensemble Magazine
    https://www.ensemblemagazine.co.nz/articles/ilona-maher-rugby-tiktok-star
  17. NBC Sports
    https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/hometown-hopefuls-ilona-maher-on-the-post-olympic-blues-and-body-image
  18. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/sports/olympics/ilona-maher-rugby-tik-tok.html
  19. "Ilona Maher"
    https://gobobcats.com/sports/womens-rugby/roster/ilona--maher/7011
  20. Burlington Free Press
    https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/sports/2017/05/05/burlingtons-maher-named-nations-top-rugby-player/101348658/
  21. Quinnipiac Today
    https://www.qu.edu/quinnipiac-today/rugby-alumnus-chasing-gold-medal-dreams-2024-06-18/
  22. The Rugby Breakdown
    https://therugbybreakdown.com/2018-07-20-maher-makes-most-of-young-7s-career/
  23. WATE 6 On Your Side
    https://web.archive.org/web/20240727071005/https://www.wate.com/2024-olympics/rugby-sevens-player-ilona-maher-is-vying-for-a-medal-in-paris/
  24. The Boston Globe
    https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/09/sports/olympics-new-england-medals
  25. "U.S. Women Reach Rugby World Cup Sevens Semifinals After Gritty Win Over Canada"
    https://www.teamusa.com/news/2022/september/10/us-women-reach-rugby-world-cup-sevens-semifinals-after-gritty-win-over-canada
  26. Yahoo Sports
    https://sports.yahoo.com/vermont-olympian-ilona-maher-role-080136491.html
  27. "Meet Ilona Maher: U.S. Women's Rugby sevens star, TikTok sensation and bronze medallist at Paris 2024 Olympics"
    https://olympics.com/en/news/ilona-maher-us-womens-rugby-sevens-star-tiktok-sensation-paris-2024-olympics
  28. The Burlington Free Press
    https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/sports/2024/07/30/ilona-maher-bronze-medal-for-us-womens-rugby-team-at-paris-olympics/74604357007/
  29. "Paris Olympics sweetheart: Rugby player Ilona Maher promotes body positivity through social media"
    https://apnews.com/article/olympics-ilona-maher-rugby-body-positivity-dc092f017d5275235cd94f415d084d46
  30. "Ilona Maher factor prompts Bristol into fixture change"
    https://www.rugbypass.com/news/ilona-maher-factor-prompts-bristol-into-fixture-change/
  31. "Gloucester-Hartpury overpower Bristol on Maher debut"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c9vkzdx2yglo
  32. "Maher scores first Bristol try in win at Exeter"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/ce8yv235211o
  33. Rugby World Cup
    https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2025/en/news/1001923/usa-name-squad-for-womens-rugby-world-cup-2025
  34. USA Rugby
    https://eagles.rugby/news/usa-womens-eagles-squad-ready-to-make-their-mark-as-the-womens-rugby-world-cup-2025-is-revealed-2025717
  35. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/46173260/women-rugby-world-cup-united-states-thrash-samoa-knocked-out
  36. Shape
    https://www.shape.com/ilona-maher-body-image-6823637
  37. People
    https://people.com/olympian-ilona-maher-rockin-her-cellulite-during-a-game-8422308
  38. "Vermont Olympian Ilona Maher featured in latest ad for Secret Deodorant"
    https://www.mynbc5.com/article/vermont-rugby-ilona-maher-secret-deodorant/61543809
  39. Planet Rugby
    https://www.planetrugby.com/news/usas-ilona-maher-surpasses-siya-kolisi-as-the-most-followed-active-rugby-player-on-instagram
  40. ABC News
    https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Style/rugby-star-ilona-maher-makes-sports-illustrated-swimsuit/story?id=113224914
  41. Forbes
    https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinbirnbaum/2024/12/03/30-under-30-2025-meet-the-athletes-and-executives-breaking-barriers-in-the-sports-world/
  42. Sports Illustrated
    https://swimsuit.si.com/reveal/introducing-ilona-maher-si-swimsuit-2025
  43. Quinnipiac University Athletics
    https://gobobcats.com/news/2025/7/16/womens-rugby-ilona-maher-wins-2025-espy-for-best-breakthrough-athlete.aspx
  44. www.bbc.com
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gpwn5v072o
  45. ABC News
    https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/dancing-with-the-stars-season-33-cast/story?id=113355662
  46. CT Insider
    https://www.ctinsider.com/entertainment/article/ilona-maher-rugby-dancing-with-the-stars-19773869.php
  47. Dancing with the Stars
    https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/ilona-maher-showing-girls-embrace-powerful-dwts-115606911
  48. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/nov/26/ilona-maher-womens-rugby-dancing-with-the-stars
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