If you’ve opened Instagram this summer, chances are your feed has been blessed by the unapologetic, broad shouldered presence of Olympic rugby player and influencer Ilona Maher. She is loved for her down-to-earth humor and vulnerability around the challenging reality of body image in sports. Since Maher’s rise to fame, she has advocated for girls and women to embrace their strength, try new things and reject all expectations of what an athlete “should” look like. Amidst her inspiring advocacy, she has drawn the attention of rugby fans world-wide and inspired many young girls to play themselves.
“She’s so cool” Imogene Ostrom said, a Garfield alumni who recently took up rugby in college. Ostrom isn’t alone in her admiration, during the 2024 Olympics, rugby sevens had more streams than ever before in Olympic history and it is all thanks to Maher. “I feel like women’s rugby is on the up and up. People know what it is …People support it, and [Ilona’s] so powerful and gorgeous it’s awesome.”
Perhaps the most important takeaway from Maher is that self doubt should never stop you from trying something fun, and physical sports are a place where you can feel your best. “Anyone, absolutely anyone can play rugby” encouraged Ostrom “whether you are stick thin and scared of being broken or are super strong and want to showcase it, everybody can do it and everyone can feel awesome doing it.” There is a misconception that in order to play “rough” sports such as rugby you need to be masculine or tough and Maher wants the world to know this isn’t true. One way she embraces her feminine side on the field is with her signature bright lipstick, a fun reminder of her complexity.
If this superstar has put rugby on your mind, let this be your sign to wait no longer. “Rugby is such a fun sport. You just get to throw balls around, tackle people, and run. And the community is amazing.” Ostrom said. Although Garfield doesn’t have a team, Seattle has numerous opportunities to get involved, you can start by looking on RugbyWashington.org to find the best program for you. If you are curious about the sport but aren’t looking to play you can purchase a ticket and go support the Seawolves, Seattle’s Major League Rugby team, at any of their regular season games.
Graphics by Simon Hove.
