Ilona Maher wishes Shilese Jones the best after she undergoes a second surgery [Image Source : Getty]

Ilona Maher drops a three-word reaction as Shilese Jones undergoes second surgery

Modified Apr 04, 2025 03:01 GMT

Ilona Maher recently sent her best wishes to American gymnast Shilese Jones. The American gymnast underwent a second surgery following a knee injury that had scuttled her ambitions to represent the USA at the Paris Olympics.

Jones recently posted a photograph of herself after the second surgery on her Instagram profile. She had previously undergone surgery for her shoulder injury she had sustained almost a year ago.

The 22-year-old gymnast wrote in the caption of her Instagram post,

"2nd times the charm✨Every scar is a testament to my resilience, a reminder of what I’ve overcome🤍 One step closer to feeling my best❤️‍🩹"

For the unversed, Shilese Jones had initially suffered a shoulder injury at the Xfinity National Championships last year. Before she could recuperate from the same, Jones injured her ACL [anterior cruciate ligament] during training before the US Olympic Trials, effectively ruling her out of contention for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Several sportspeople, from fellow gymnast Konnor McClain to Talitha Diggs, sent their best wishes to the American gymnast, hoping for her quick recovery. Even Maher couldn't stop herself from posting in the comments section.

"You got this!!"

A few months ago, Maher broke her nose during an intense rugby match against the Leicester Tigers at the Premiership Women's Rugby League. Though Maher reassured her followers that nothing much happened, she later shared an Instagram video about her injury, where she spoke,

"I think I have genuinely scared a few people on the street."

Ilona Maher is currently preparing for the Rugby 15s 'Pacific Four' series, where the USA will be competing against Canada, Australia, and Japan.

Ilona Maher reveals her 'secret sauce' for female athletes aiming to be popular on social media

Ilona Maher reveals the key to popularity for fellow female athletes on social media [Image Source : Getty]

Apart from her impressive skills on the field, rugby player Ilona Maher is equally popular on social media. The Olympic bronze medalist recently shared her 'secret sauce' for gaining popularity on social media.

In a video posted on Instagram, Maher said,

“So many female athletes ask me, 'Oh I want to grow on social media like you; what's your tips and tricks? Can you please teach me?' And I want all of them to grow. I want all of them to grow. And my advice to you all is to just post it. Whatever it is just post it. I found success just putting something out there. It could be a video that I don’t think’s going to do well. I'm going to put it out there. Because, surprisingly, it will.”

Ilona Maher increased her social media presence ever since her Olympic debut at the Tokyo Olympics. She contributed to the historic bronze medal for Team USA in women's rugby sevens at the Paris Olympics.

About the author

Animesh Pandey is a seasoned content writer at Sportskeeda with over eight years of experience, having previously worked as an intern for Follow Your Sport before joining SK as a columnist in 2017. A graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing, he also worked at TFI Media Private Limited and contributed as an intern for the movie website Nettv4u.

He has extensively covered events from World Championships to the Olympics, providing insights and analyses that resonate with his audience. His belief in mastering the basics and delivering accurate, relevant, and ethical information through thorough research is reflected in his work.

He was notably invited to the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2018 at Rashtrapati Bhavan after winning a MyGov quiz on Indian Sports, where he engaged with celebrated athletes such as Rahi Sarnobat, Hima Das, Jinson Johnson, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, and Subedar Neeraj Chopra, who also happens to be his favorite Olympian.

Despite being a field hockey enthusiast, Animesh's most cherished Olympic moments include Wayde Van Niekerk's unexpected world record in the 400 meters at Rio and Chopra's historic gold medal in Tokyo.

When not immersed in writing or watching the Olympics, Animesh indulges in his love for movies, embracing quality cinema regardless of the language.

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