Ilona Maher, a member of Team USA’s rugby team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is now gearing up for a new challenge—Dancing With The Stars. Maher was recently announced as a contestant on the upcoming season, with her dance partner, Alan Bersten, sharing a video of their practice on Instagram. From heat training to balanced nutrition, here’s how Maher stays in top shape.
1. She Heat Trains
Prior to the Olympics, Maher shared her training secrets with Mind Body Green. She says that she likes to prepare herself for games by playing in hot environments. “I don't know if this is really intense, but heat training. We play in such hot environments sometimes—like Singapore; Hong Kong; Perth, Australia, during heat waves, and as high as 114 degrees—so we get into heat acclimation. Preparing yourself to be able to perform in that environment starts back home. So even now I do heat acclimation just to prepare myself for summer in Paris.”
2. She Has Balance
Maher opened up to Mind Body Green about finding a balance between rugby and other aspects of her life. “I've almost had to find a balance. If you want to make a career out of rugby or if you want to make enough money as a professional athlete in rugby, you have to have a social media presence. I treat it as a second job, if not right up there with my first job of being an athlete. Because at the spot we are as a sport and a women's sport, I'm not going to get too much of a livable income with just rugby.”
3. She Eats A Balanced Diet
For Maher, eating means finding a balance. She talked about this to EatingWell. “Eating well to me is fueling your body, but it's also enjoying life and enjoying what you're eating. I think I eat well, but I don't only eat vegetables, chicken and rice. That's not me. Eating well is having that balance of eating healthy foods, but also having a piece of cake when you want to, being able to have two scoops of peanut butter. Eating well is fueling your body and your mind and having that happiness that comes with eating and enjoying things while making sure your body feels good.”
4. She Stays Hydrated
Maher tells EatingWell that she makes sure to stay hydrated. “If I could, I would only drink sugary drinks and fruit juices because I love that, but I shouldn't drink big quantities of that. So sparkling water and seltzer is a good way for me to get my hydration in. I love working out, [and wanting] water when you're working out is so fun. I wish I was better [about drinking water]. My sister has a water bottle on her at all times and is always refilling it.”
5. She Wants To Inspire Girls
Maher tells Mind Body Green that she wants to encourage girls to play sports, and not think that they are too masculine to do. “I think for me, being that rugby athlete in the limelight, I want to show that I can be this very big, powerful person, but I can also wear lipstick on the field to show that you can bring your femininity on the field too. I know that in our seventh circuit now, we have a lot of girls who put on a full face of makeup and who want to go out there and be pretty. I love that because I don't think you have to sacrifice that to play this traditionally very ‘manly’ sport.”
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock