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"I don't know what that is" - Ilona Maher responds to claims about struggling with imposter syndrome
Ilona Maher is one of the most well-known rugby stars from the USA, having led her team to a historic bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Recently, the American opened up about her mindset towards her success, sharing that she had never dealt with imposter syndrome.
Maher first became a popular name during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, when she began sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of an athlete’s life in the Olympic Village across her social media. Four years later, she skyrocketed to fame after she helped Team USA to a third-place finish at the Paris Olympics.
Since the Games, Maher's popularity has been on the rise, as she made an appearance on the reality TV show Dancing With The Stars and is now in Britain to play in the Premiership Women's Rugby league. Recently, in an interview with CNN, the American was asked how one overcomes imposter syndrome, to which she replied,
“I don't have that. I don't know what that is. It's like where you don't feel like you deserve it? No, I don't think I have it. I feel like I deserve what I've gotten. I think that I have worked very hard, even in the rugby space. I've played sports my whole life, I went and played rugby at South Burlington High School, then I made the late decision to play rugby here (Britain) and then I transferred here to play rugby. And then I do all the work off the field, I post videos consistently from Tokyo till now. I posted many videos a day. I put myself out there, I put my whole personality, my whole everything out there.”
Ilona Maher went on to encourage people to embrace their success, saying,
“I just don't think I have that (imposter syndrome), which I think is also, people are told sometimes to feel like they have that imposter syndrome. But it's okay to be proud of what you've done. It's okay to believe you deserve something because you've put in the work for it.”
Ilona Maher shares snaps of herself enjoying a sauna
For Ilona Maher, 2024 was a busy year. The American kicked it off with an appearance at the Paris Olympics before heading to Dancing With The Stars. While on DWTS, the rugby star delivered multiple fantastic performances and finished second in the finals.
Now, Maher is caught up with an equally busy 2025 as she competes in the Premiership Women's Rugby league. She made her debut in the league playing for the Bristol Bears.
Recently, the 29-year-old enjoyed some time off from her busy schedule as she enjoyed a sauna. She shared pictures of the same on her Instagram, writing,
“Sweating it out.”
Ilona Maher has made two appearances for the Bristol Bears so far this season, and in her second match for the team, the American suffered a broken nose after a major collision. The Bears are scheduled to return to play on Saturday, January 25, but it remains to be seen if Maher will be in action during the game.
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