Team USA's Ilona Maher Claps Back at Criticism About Her Weight

I’m truly in awe of the inspiring stories and dedication of these remarkable athletes. Each one of them has faced unique challenges and overcome incredible odds to reach the pinnacle of their respective sports.

Team USA rugby player Ilona Maher is kicking negativity to the curb.

A 27-year-old athlete, who captured our hearts at the 2020 Summer Olympics and is set to compete again in the 2024 Paris Olympics, has responded to comments regarding her being labeled “overweight” based on Body Mass Index (BMI).

Ilona replied to her critic in the July 20 TikTok video by acknowledging, “You may have intended to tease me, but I want to set the record straight: My BMI is indeed 30, or to be precise, 29.3. I’ve always been classified as overweight.”

She pointed out that BMI only provides information on a person’s height and weight, resulting in an equation, rather than supplying detailed insights into their overall health or fitness level.

I had a deep conversation with my dietitian the other day, as I’m committed to basing my decisions on solid information. We delved into the topic of Body Mass Index (BMI) and how inadequate it can be for athletes like myself. BMI fails to provide meaningful insights.

Ilona, standing at 5 feet 10 inches and tipping the scales around 200 pounds, shared that according to the BMI chart, she falls into the “overweight” category. However, she pointed out that this assessment doesn’t consider the approximately 170 pounds of lean muscle mass she carries on her body.

“Really surprising, isn’t it?” she went on. “Despite being classified as overweight, I’ll be heading to the Olympics, while you won’t.”

Ilona responded to critics in the post’s caption, “I’ll continue to retort with wit as long as they make foolish comments.”

From Vermont, this woman has strongly advocated for self-love and body acceptance since representing her country at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Last year, she wrote an open letter to girls and women with broad shoulders, addressing them on Instagram: “You are not unwanted. You are not bulky like football players. You are not masculine. You are not unappealing.”

“Ilona went on, ‘You’re stunning,’ she captioned a picture of herself wearing a form-fitting, backless dress, ‘You’re impressive. You’re strong. You’re breathtakingly amazing.’ “

I firmly believe that carrying oneself with confidence is key to making a strong impression. Based on my own experiences, I’ve found that simply straightening your shoulders and holding your head high can work wonders for how others perceive you. When you enter a room with this posture, it sends a message of self-assurance and poise. It may not always be easy to feel confident, but with practice, it becomes second nature. So give it a try – put your shoulders back, wear your head high, and walk into any room as if you’re the owner!

Certainly, Ilona is not the sole athletic representation for Team USA. Continue exploring to encounter additional rising sports stars slated to participate in the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics.

Simone Biles holds the record as the most decorated gymnast ever, period. However, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist for the all-around needs to take care of some unfinished business in Paris, as she dealt with a case of the twisties that caused her to withdraw from most events at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.

Representing Team USA alongside Biles are Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera.

Alyssa Naeher, the experienced women’s national soccer team goalkeeper, boasts two World Cup victories and an impressive collection of statistics. However, there is a notable absence on her resume that she hopes to remedy by winning gold with Paris following their third-place finish in Tokyo.

Sha’Carri Richardson, the promising sprinter, was expected to compete at the Olympics in Tokyo for the first time. Unfortunately, she was ruled out following a positive test for marijuana use. As the current world champion in the 100 meters and a clear favorite, she is now looking forward to setting the track on fire in Paris with her signature event.

Katie Ledecky, an accomplished swimmer, boasts an impressive collection of ten Olympic medals, with seven of them being golden. In May, she was bestowed upon the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom. Currently participating in her fourth Olympic Games, the Stanford alumna stands the opportunity to make history as the first female swimmer to secure gold medals in four consecutive competitions if she rules the 800-meter event once more.

At the Olympics, men’s soccer teams must consist of only players aged 23 or younger, with a maximum of three exceptions known as “overage” players. Thus, veteran defender Walker Zimmerman assumed his dream of competing on this global platform had been dashed when the US men’s team missed qualifying in 2016.

At 31 years old, I can only imagine the feeling of excitement and gratitude the person must have experienced when opportunities finally came their way this year. The simplicity of the statement “things materialized” belies the potential complexity and challenges that may have come before it. Yet, in that moment, all that mattered was the chance to seize the opportunity and make something of it. The raw emotion behind the words “amazing” speaks volumes about the impact this new development has had on their life, offering a fresh perspective and renewed hope for the future.

“Looking back at the Trials in 2021, if someone had asked me then if I regretted my decision to come out as trans and nonbinary, I would have answered yes,” Nikki Hiltz shared with NBC Sports before missing out on qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics.

Despite not giving up on her pursuit of truth or her passion for the sport, Hiltz achieved remarkable success in 2023 by winning both the U.S. indoor and outdoor titles in the 1500m. She repeated this accomplishment at indoor championships in 2024, and set a new field record of 3:55.33 to secure the women’s 1500m title at Trials on June 30.

Today is the final day of Pride Month, and I chose to complete this race in honor of my community. (Or, This race was my way of celebrating Pride Month’s last day and showing support for my community.)

Coco Gauff, the 20-year-old tennis star who triumphed at the 2023 U.S. Open, currently holds the second position in the global rankings. Regrettably, a past COVID infection prevented her from participating in the Olympics for the first time.

In the United States, Victor Montalvo holds the top position, and he ranks second globally in the field of B-boying. He is poised to shake up the Olympics with his exceptional skills as breaking finally makes its entrance at the Paris Games.

At the U.S. men’s basketball team, there isn’t just one standout player, but LeBron James, a four-time NBA champion, is likely playing in his final Olympics. He will be among the two flagbearers representing Team USA at the July 26 Opening Ceremony.

James told reporters he was “super-appreciative and-super humbled” by the honor.

Wheelchair rugby is far from being unimpressive, as evidenced by Chuck Aoki’s impressive career with the U.S. Paralympic team since 2012. With a bronze medal and two silver medals already earned, securing a gold in Paris would be an excellent addition to his accomplishments.

Hunter Woodhall, who is well-known for being the supportive partner of Paralympian Tara Davis-Woodhall, is also an exceptional sprinter. The graduate of the University of Arkansas has made a name for himself as a sprinting phenomenon. He goes to Paris with confidence after dominating the men’s T62 400m and T62 100m events at the Trials.

Two friends and former Louisiana State University athletes, Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss, weren’t professional beach volleyball players yet. In April 2021, before they had turned pro, Kristen gave Taryn an ankle bracelet as a birthday present with the inscription “August 11, 2024.”

If you’re guessing that’s the date of the women’s finals at the Paris Olympics, you are correct.

Oksana Masters, who has competed in the Paralympics six times, was born with defects caused by radiation in Ukraine in 1989. These included webbed fingers and tibial malformation, which were linked to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Raised in Louisville, Kentucky, by her adoptive mother Gay Masters, Oksana went through several surgeries, including leg amputations at the ages of 9 and 14. After these procedures, she discovered a passion for rowing.

For the seven-time Paralympic medalist, whether it’s sun or snow, it makes no difference. Heading into Paris, she will participate in cycling events at the Summer Paralympics, adding to her impressive collection of medals as a para-cross-country skier and para-biathlete from the Winter Paralympics, as well as a para-cyclist and para-rower from previous Summer Paralympics.

Caroline Marks came in second place before the podium at the Tokyo surfing competition. She is now eager to claim the 2023 world title and bring it to victory at the Olympics, but not in Paris. Instead, all Olympic surfing competitions will be held at Teahupo’o on Tahiti, which is approximately 10,000 miles from the rest of the event locations.

Swimmer Jessica Long, who identifies as “Born without legs, living my best life” in her Instagram profile, is making her way to her sixth Paralympic Games. With an impressive record of 29 medals, 16 of which are gold, this athlete is now primarily competing for the sake of personal achievement.

A’ja Wilson, a two-time WNBA MVP and star player for the Las Vegas Aces, will spearhead the US women’s basketball team as they aim for their eighth consecutive gold medal at international competitions. (The men are striving for their fifth in a row after suffering a loss in 2004.)

At the Tokyo Olympics, butterfly and freestyle swimming sensation Caeleb Dressel effortlessly earned five gold medals, raising his total Olympic gold count to an impressive seven. This will be the third Olympic appearance for Dressel, and the first time he’ll represent the United States as a father. In February, he welcomed his son, August Wilder Dressel, with his wife Meghan Dressel.

After Jessica Parratto and Delaney Schnell won a silver medal for women’s synchronized 10m platform at the Tokyo Olympics, marking Team USA’s initial victory in this particular event, the petite athlete, standing at 5 feet 2 inches tall, decided to retire and return to her normal life as she put it to NBC Sports.

For approximately a year, she stayed away from the pool after Schnell tried to lure her back. However, it’s important to note that Parratto clarified her reasons for returning before they qualified for Paris: “I didn’t go back because he asked me to. I made the decision to return on my own.”

Additionally, the noisy foot taps by Schnell during the Montreal Diving World Cup didn’t bother Parratto at all. In fact, it served as an excellent opportunity for them to connect, as Parratto expressed, “it was a great moment of camaraderie for us, and we were just reassuring each other: We can do this.”

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that the U.S. men’s gymnastics team has some impressive talents, and one of them is none other than Fred Richard. During the 2024 Olympic Trials, he outscored all competitors on both nights, earning the top spot. With his exceptional skills in all-around, horizontal bars, and parallel bars, which he previously showcased as the NCAA champion from the University of Michigan in 2023, there’s no doubt fans will go wild if Fred helps our team secure an Olympic podium for the first time since 2008.

2024-07-25 00:48

Team USA’s Ilona Maher Claps Back at Criticism About Her Weight

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