Ilona Maher — a US rugby sevens player and two-time Olympian — is the latest star in women’s sports to appear on Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue, as revealed by the magazine on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old center, who can also play as a prop, was introduced to SI’s 2.1million Instagram followers after winning bronze at the Paris Olympics.
Maher, who has 3.8M followers of her own, is the most followed rugby player in the world on Instagram.
She will make her Si Swimsuit debut as the magazine’s September digital issue cover model.
‘Ilona Maher gracing the cover of our September digital issue is more than just a celebration of her athletic achievements – it’s a powerful statement,’ said MJ Day – Editor in Chief at SI Swimsuit.
Ilona Maher – a bronze medalist in Paris – is the latest athlete to sign with Sports Illustrated
Maher showed off her figure in several swimsuits while flashing her Olympic medal by the beach for SI.
In Paris, she made headlines for talking about turning the Olympic village into ‘Love Island’ due to the high ratio of single athletes.
‘I cannot wait to get into the Olympic villa. It’s gonna be a crazy summer,’ Maher said in a TikTok video from July, parodying Love Island contestant introductions on the UK reality TV show.
‘Honestly, I’m probably the fittest bird in there.’
Maher can play center or as a prop, and has also represented US rugby sevens in Tokyo in 2021
After an off-camera friend reminded Maher of her main purpose at the Olympics, she reluctantly agree to not turn the Olympic Village into the ‘Love Island’ villa.
‘I guess, if we wanna say that, but I still am gonna try to couple up early on,’ Maher joked. ‘It is early days, but I am there to find love.’
Maher – a Burlington, Vermont native – also plays club rugby for Scion Rugby, based in Washington DC.
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