"Maybe that is a female thing" - Ilona Maher opens up on struggles to make 'real money' alongside rugby

Olympic medalist rugby player Ilona Maher recently opened up on her struggles to make 'real money' while also playing the sport. The 29-year-old American rugby player has signed up with Bristol Bears for a three-month contract.

In her interview with the British daily 'The Guardian', Maher talked at length about her struggles to make 'real money', and the need to do more beyond a strong social media presence. In her words,

“I didn’t want people to think I wasn’t serious because I do social media or social media takes away my impact on the field. As a female athlete I would love to just focus on what I am doing on the field but if I want to live a comfortable life, if I want to make real money, I have to actually do more. Maybe that is a female thing, sometimes we have to do more. I wasn’t willing to give up something that could be so lucrative for me, I wanted to make sure I could do both."

Ilona Maher contributed to the historic bronze medal won by the USA in the women's rugby sevens event at the Paris Olympics. USA won the Olympic medal for the first time in any category of this event by defeating the Australian women's team in the bronze medal match.

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Ilona Maher on aiming to be a role model for the upcoming generation

Ilona Maher on aiming to be a role model for the upcoming generation [Image Source : Getty]

Ilona Maher has been outspoken on the issues of women empowerment and her aim is to be an inspiration for the upcoming generation. After signing up with the Premiership Women's Rugby club Bristol Bears, the 28-year-old rugby player opened up on this issue.

In a conversation with the Bristol Bears, when asked about how she will inspire girls on and off the rugby pitch, Maher replied,

"I hope that I can continue spreading my message [...] and I'm encouraged to spread my message, and I'm encouraged to spread my message. I'm also joining the PWR because I want to show other girls in America that there's a lot of pathways to play rugby, you can go play internationally, you can go play in England for amazing clubs" (2:13 onwards)

Though Maher has been scouting for clubs since 2023, it was only after her success at the Paris Olympics that the rugby player thought about joining a professional club seriously. After her selection for the Bristol Bears, head coach Dave Ward expressed as he told BBC,

"Ilona is one of the biggest names in women's sport, let alone rugby, and we believe she will add real value to our programme on and off the field."

Previously, Ilona Maher took part in the 33rd season of 'Dancing with the Stars.' Surprising everyone with her persistent effort to prove herself as a capable dancer, the rugby player missed out on the trophy by a whisker, finishing as runners-up alongside her dance partner Alan Bersten.