Ilona Maher — a US rugby sevens participant and two-time Olympian — is the newest star in ladies’s sports activities to look on Sports Illustrated‘s Swimsuit Issue, as revealed by the journal on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old heart, who also can play as a prop, was launched to SI’s 2.1million Instagram followers after successful bronze at the Paris Olympics.Â
Maher, who has 3.8M followers of her personal, is the most adopted rugby participant in the world on Instagram.Â
She will make her Si Swimsuit debut as the journal’s September digital situation cowl model.Â
‘Ilona Maher gracing the cowl of our September digital situation is greater than only a celebration of her athletic achievements – it is a highly effective assertion,’ mentioned MJ Day – Editor in Chief at SI Swimsuit.Â
Ilona Maher – a bronze medalist in Paris – is the newest athlete to signal with Sports Illustrated
Maher confirmed off her determine in a number of swimsuits whereas flashing her Olympic medal by the seashore for SI.Â
In Paris, she made headlines for speaking about turning the Olympic village into ‘Love Island’ attributable to the excessive ratio of single athletes.Â
‘I can not wait to get into the Olympic villa. It’s gonna be a loopy summer time,’ Maher mentioned in a TikTok video from July, parodying Love Island contestant introductions on the UK actuality TV present.Â
‘Honestly, I’m most likely the fittest hen in there.’Â
Maher can play heart or as a prop, and has additionally represented US rugby sevens in Tokyo in 2021
After an off-camera good friend reminded Maher of her primary function at the Olympics, she reluctantly conform to not flip the Olympic Village into the ‘Love Island’ villa.
‘I suppose, if we wanna say that, however I nonetheless am gonna attempt to couple up early on,’ Maher joked. ‘It is early days, however I’m there to seek out love.’Â
Maher – a Burlington, Vermont native – additionally performs membership rugby for Scion Rugby, primarily based in Washington DC.
