She’s An Olympic Rugby Star, And Here’s How She Shut Down Someone Who Tried To Shame Her For Her Weight
The Olympic games are here, and many of us Americans are cheering on our favorite athletes who are bringing home the gold.
Olympic athletes have some of the most impressive strength, stamina, and physique we have ever seen.
Yet, despite their amazing athleticism, many female Olympians are still criticized for the way their bodies look, even though they’re some of the strongest women in the country.
Ilona Maher, a 27-year-old rugby player for team U.S.A., who competed in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, recently addressed this issue after a commenter on an Instagram account tried to insult her after “betting” that she has a BMI or body mass index of 30%.
“I think you were trying to roast me, but this is actually a fact,” says Ilona in her response video, which she recorded before heading to Paris for the Olympic games.
“I do have a BMI of 30. Well, 29.3 to be exact. I’ve been considered overweight my whole life.”
Ilona then goes on to explain how she was told she was overweight for the majority of her life, from middle school to high school and beyond.
She has memories of being extremely embarrassed when she was labeled as overweight in school and tried to hide it from everyone.
After years of being insecure about her being considered overweight, Ilona spoke to a dietician so she could listen to a professional instead of the negative thoughts in her head.
Instagram – pictured above is Ilona in her response video
Ilona discussed the math behind calculating a BMI with her doctor and how it “really isn’t helpful” for athletes.
Ilona learned that calculating her BMI, which is derived from her weight and height, isn’t that important in her journey to becoming a better athlete, considering she’s five-foot-ten, weighs about 200 pounds, and approximately 170 of those pounds are “lean mass.”
“That BMI doesn’t really tell you what I can do,” says Ilona.
“It doesn’t tell you what I can do on the field or how fit I am; it’s just a couple of numbers put together. It doesn’t tell you how much muscle I have or anything like that.”
Ilona’s video proves that anyone trying to tell her what her BMI is won’t be able to hurt her, as she knows it’s irrelevant to her because her body is healthy and very strong.
“So, yeah, I do have a BMI of 30,” she says at the end of her video.
“I am considered overweight. But alas, I’m going to the Olympics, and you’re not.”
You go, Ilona!
Ever since Ilona’s response video went viral, she’s continued to post inspiring content that promotes body positivity and encourages people to fuel and appreciate their bodies. Plus, after recording that video, she won a bronze medal at the Olympics. Take that, haters!
You can watch Ilona’s video on Instagram here.
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