When it comes to dating, Ilona Maher, the powerhouse Olympic medalist from Burlington, USA, might seem like she’s been stuck in a permanent scrum with Cupid—and not in a good way. In fact, the only running she’s been doing is with a rugby ball, charging across the field with unstoppable force. The evidence? During one candid interaction with People, Maher quipped, “What dating life? Honestly, I haven’t been on a date in years.” But while she might be tackling defenders rather than romantic dinners, her impact on the rugby world over the past year has been impossible to ignore. 

First, Ilona Maher helped the US women’s rugby squad clinch a bronze medal—a victory that electrified fans back home. Then, she took her talents overseas, joining the Bristol Bears in England’s top-tier Premiership Women’s Rugby league. There, she proved that her dominance wasn’t just a fluke, bringing her signature blend of power, speed, and grit to the 15s game, leaving both fans and opponents in awe. And from all these, you might think she’s all about play and no fun—but hold on. In a recent heart-to-heart, Ilona revealed a few surprising truths that add some intriguing layers to her seemingly all-business persona.

Ilona Maher reveals a hilarious incident from her school days 

Another day, another unfiltered revelation from Ilona Maher—this time, in front of her biggest critics and biggest fans: her sisters. On the YouTube podcast, House of Maher, the Olympic medalist sat down with her siblings—“Girl Dinner” creator Olivia Maher and human rights advocate Adrianna “Dre Baby” Maher—for a hilariously candid trip down memory lane. And let’s just say, Ilona’s confession had the sisters howling. While reminiscing about their school days, Ilona recalled what she described as a “special encounter” during high school. No, it wasn’t a whirlwind romance or a teenage heartbreak. It was, in fact, her very first conversation with a boy—a memory so awkwardly vivid, she still recalls every detail. The boy? Her friend, Alex. The moment? Utterly ordinary.

“I was so tense. So nervous. I was like, this is happening. Really cool,” Ilona admitted, painting a picture of wide-eyed teenage innocence. And the interaction itself? “It was just a normal encounter. We were just going from class to class.” No romantic sparks. No heart-racing drama. Just two kids walking through the hallways, but to Ilona, it felt like a scene from a coming-of-age film. And then came the punchline that had Olivia and Dre Baby in stitches. With a mock-serious tone, Ilona conceded, “I only had three boys in my class, and they were like my brothers.” The sisters burst into laughter at the irony of her so-called “special” encounter. Cue the collective Maher eye-roll.

But here’s the thing—Ilona’s unapologetic honesty is part of her charm. That high school nervousness? It lingered into her adult life when it came to dating. Even as she transformed into a fierce competitor on the rugby field, she remained refreshingly real about her struggles in the romance department. Whether she’s cracking self-deprecating jokes on TikTok or sharing stories of her zero dating prospects during training season, Maher keeps it real. No filters, no pretense—just pure, unvarnished Ilona. Example, again? 

The rugby powerhouse is still waiting for someone to cheer just for her

“It’s all very positive moms that are like, ‘I love what you’ve done for my daughter,’ and I’m like, ‘Where’s the NFL players? I thought there’d be more. No billionaires in here?’” Classic Ilona Maher—blunt, hilarious, and hitting you with a punchline you didn’t see coming. This particular gem? It dropped during a People interview in October last year, and it perfectly captured her signature blend of comedy and candor.

On the surface, it’s just another Maher-ism—a tongue-in-cheek jab at the lack of eligible bachelors in her fanbase. But listen closer, and you’ll catch a deeper layer beneath the humor. For all the positive moms singing her praises, Maher couldn’t help but wonder: where’s the person rooting just for her? The one whose eyes light up when she steps onto the field—not because she’s inspiring their kids, but because they’re genuinely proud of her, for her. “I’ve never really had somebody who’s come to my rugby games. Somebody who’s really proud to see me shine and wants me to keep growing—someone who shows me off.” It’s a rare moment of vulnerability from the otherwise iron-willed Olympian. 

Just think, Ilona Maher is a wrecking ball on the field—plowing through defenders, making jaw-dropping tackles, and dominating in the scrum. Off the field, she’s a charismatic social media star, cracking jokes about her dating struggles and giving fans a front-row seat to her larger-than-life personality. But in this moment, she reveals the quieter, softer side—the part of her that longs for someone to see her not just as a rugby icon but as Ilona. And the irony?

While she jokes about hoping for NFL players or billionaires in her DMs, Ilona is already a millionaire in impact. She’s adored by thousands of young athletes—especially girls—who see her as proof that strength, humor, and authenticity belong in sports. The messages from moms thanking her for being a role model? That’s not nothing. That’s legacy-building. Still, there’s a piece of the puzzle missing. The person who shows up just for her. Someone who doesn’t care about her TikTok following or her Olympic hardware—someone who’s just proud to see her shine. But here’s the thing: whether or not that person comes along, Ilona Maher isn’t waiting around. She’s too busy breaking tackles, breaking barriers, and breaking the internet with her unfiltered charm. And what if the NFL players and billionaires can’t keep up? Well, that’s their loss.