“We truly changed the game” - Ilona Maher reflects on pioneering change after winning USA's first Olympic medal in women's rugby

American rugby sevens player Ilona Maher reflected on her monumental win at the Pais Olympics and said she referred to the medal as 'rose gold' instead of bronze. Maher and her team finished third after outscoring Australia 14-12.

Maher, 28, was part of the US women's rugby sevens team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but finished sixth behind Australia. In Paris, US faced the Australian team in the bronze medal match and defeated them 14-12, clinching the first-ever Olympic medal for America in the sport.

In an exclusive interview with People on the Delta One Lounge opening day at Los Angeles International Airport, Ilona Maher referred to the historical bronze (first-ever Olympic women's rugby sevens medal for US) as 'rose gold' and talked about changing the game in Paris and winning people's hearts.

"We truly changed the game in Paris and did something so monumental. We just got a bronze, but honestly, it felt like a gold. And I think even some people, whenever they’re like, ‘Oh, you’re the gold medalist,’ I’m like, ‘Nope just got a bronze.’ But people, people of the reaction to it and because of how amazing it was, it seems like a gold ... We call it rose gold, actually. It's our rose gold," she said.

Maher also weighed in on how tough her time would be after the hype of the Olympics dies down.

"I think it’ll be tough [for me] once the hype does die down a little bit, whenever that is. Because right now, whatever I’m doing is bigger than just 15 minutes and I think I create something with it," she added.

Ilona Maher is currently on the celebrity reality show Dancing With the Stars season 33. Partnered with Alan Burston, she is through to the third week.

Ilona Maher on how she and her teammates promoted body positivity in Paris

Ilona Maher at the Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - October 2, 2024 - Source: Getty

Maher has not only won hearts with her rugby skills but also advocated for women athletes, embracing feminity. She uses her social media platform to promote body positivity, and stepped on the rugby field in Paris with make-up on.

"I think the stereotype around a rugby player is this idea that you need to drop your femininity and play a very masculine, brutal sport. Myself and my team and some others on the circuit like Australia and Ireland, are showing that femininity. We are doing our makeup before games, wearing makeup, wanting to feel pretty out there," she said (via The Associated Press).

Ilona Maher was also the cover girl of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, posing in a couple of beach wears and even topless with the bronze medal around her neck.