USA Rugby star Ilona Maher roasts social media critic over body mass index
Ilona Maher is a beast and she showcased her skills on the rugby field during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Not only can she run fast, she hits like a mack truck. So when people on social media comment on her appearance, when it comes to height and weight, Maher decided to give some perspective.
Responding in a video to a comment that said she had a body mass index of 30%, Maher took it in stride. Also, the video of her absolutely dominating on the field can be seen below.
“Hi, thank you for this comment, I think you were trying to roast me, but this is actually a fact,” Maher said. “I do have a BMI of 30, well, 29.3 to be more exact. I’ve been considered overweight my whole life. In middle school, in high school, I was always considered overweight. I remember vividly one time in high school, I (turned in a) physical to the office, and right at the bottom of the page, it said overweight. And I was so embarrassed to turn that in and to have that written there. So my whole life, I’ve been this way.”
No matter, especially if Maher is standing at five-foot-10 and 200 pounds, you better get out of her way.
“I chatted with my dietitian, because I go off of, you know, facts, and not just what, what pops up here, you know, like you do,” Maher said, still referring to the comment. “And we talked about BMI, and we talked about how it really isn’t helpful for athletes. BMI doesn’t tell you much. It just tells you what your height and weight and what that equals.
“I said I’m 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, and I have about and this an estimate, but about 170 pounds of lean mass on me. Do that math in your head. You probably can’t. That’s pretty crazy, right? And that BMI doesn’t really tell you what I can do in the field, how fit I am. It’s just a couple numbers put together, doesn’t tell you how much muscle I have, or anything like that. So yeah, I do have a BMI of 30, I am considered overweight. But alas, I’m going to the Olympics, and you’re not.”
Stop the fight, Maher wins this round. As far as she and the team are concerned, the United States advanced to the medal rounds after beating Great Britain in the quarterfinals.
The USA won 17-7 so Maher and the Americans will take on reigning champion New Zealand Tuesday morning at 9:30 AM ET.