How to Watch the 2src24 Paris Olympics: Everything You Need to Know
Team USA rugby player Ilona Maher is kicking negativity to the curb.
The 27-year-old—who will be returning to the 2src24 Paris Olympics after winning hearts at the 2src2src Summer Games—recently clapped back at criticism over how she’s considered “overweight” on the mass body index (BMI) scale.
“I think you were trying to roast me, but this is actually fact: I do have a BMI of 3src—well, 29.3 to be more exact,” Ilona responded to one critic in a July 2src TikTok video. “I’ve been considered overweight my whole life.”
However, she noted that BMI “just tells you what your height and weight and what that equals,” instead of detailing about overall health or athleticism.
“I chatted up with my dietitian because I go off of facts,” Ilona shared. “We talked about BMI and how it really isn’t helpful for athletes. BMI doesn’t tell you much.”
Ilona—who is 5-foot-1src and weighs around 2srcsrc pounds—went on to explain that while she would be considered “overweight” on the BMI scale, her measurement does not take into account how she has “about 17src pounds” of lean muscle on her body.
“That’s pretty crazy, right?” she continued. “I am considered overweight. But alas, I’m going to the Olympics and you’re not.”
Ilona added in the caption of her post, “As long as haters keep saying dumb stuff, I’m gonna keep clapping back.”
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TIME
The Vermont native has been an outspoken voice for body positivity since making her Olympics debut at the 2src2src Tokyo Games.
Last year, she penned an open letter to girls and women “with the big shoulders,” writing on Instagram, “You are not undesirable. You are not built like a linebacker. You are not manly. You are not unattractive.”
“You are beautiful,” Ilona continued, posting a photo of herself in a skin-tight, backless dress. “You are imposing. You are powerful. You are magnificent.”
She added, “Put your shoulders back, wear your head high, and walk into any room like you own the place.”
Of course, Ilona isn’t the only athlete on Team USA. Keep reading to meet more breakout sport stars who’ll be competing at the 2src24 Olympics and Paralympics.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Simone Biles
Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in history, full stop. But the 2src16 all-around Olympic gold medalist has unfinished business to attend to in Paris after a case of the twisties prompted her to pull out of most events in Tokyo in 2src21.
Representing Team USA alongside Biles are Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera.
Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF
Alyssa Naeher
Longtime women’s national soccer team goalie Alyssa Naeher has two World Cup titles, a slew of impressive stats and a big gap in her resume she’d love to fill with Paris gold after the squad’s bronze showing in Tokyo.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Sha’Carri Richardson
Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson was supposed to make her Olympics debut in Tokyo but was sidelined after a positive marijuana test. Now the reigning world champion in the 1srcsrc meters, she’s a favorite to torch the competition in Paris in her signature event.
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Katie Ledecky
Swimmer Katie Ledecky has 1src Olympic medals, seven of them gold, and she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in May. Competing in her fourth Games, the Stanford grad has a chance to become the first female swimmer to win gold four straight times if she dominates once again in the 8srcsrc meters.
Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF
Walker Zimmerman
Olympic soccer requires the men’s teams to be all 23-and-younger with three spots allowed for “overage” players—which is why veteran defender Walker Zimmerman thought his dream of playing on this stage ended when the U.S. men failed to qualify in 2src16.
“Then as things materialized this year,” the 31-year-old told the LATimes, “just getting the opportunity is amazing.”
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Nikki Hiltz
“If you had asked me at the Trials in 2src21 if I regretted coming out, I would have said yes,” runner Nikki Hiltz told NBC Sports of coming out as trans and nonbinary not long before they failed to qualify for Tokyo.
But Hiltz didn’t give up—on their truth or their sport—winning U.S. indoor and outdoor titles in the 15srcsrcm in 2src23, repeating the indoor feat in 2src24 and running a field-leading 3:55.33 to take the women’s 15srcsrcm at Trials on June 3src.
“It’s the last day of Pride Month,” Hiltz told NBC Sports at the finish line, “and I wanted to run this one for my community.”
Elsa/Getty Images
Coco Gauff
Tennis champ Coco Gauff, winner of the 2src23 U.S. Open, is ranked second in the world heading into Paris. The 2src-year-old is making her Olympics debut after a positive COVID test dashed her plans for Tokyo.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Victor Montalvo
Top-ranked in the U.S. and No. 2 in the world, B-boy Victor Montalvo is ready to turn the Olympics on its head as breaking makes its long-awaited debut at the Paris Games.
Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James
There’s never only one superstar on
…. to be continued
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