Olympic social media sensation Ilona Maher responds to ‘overweight’ jab

US rugby star Ilona Maher, who has a massive global following on social media, has been feted after she destroyed an online troll.

Ilona Maher, one of the most followed athletes at the Olympics, expertly corrects body shamers. Pictures: Instagram

American rugby sevens star Ilona Maher, who is competing at her second Olympics in Paris, has generated a monster following on social media.

In fact she has reportedly just become the most followed rugby union player on social media, male or female, with her 1.7 million Instagram followers taking her past the retired Sonny Bill Williams and Springboks captain Siya Kolisi, who both have 1.3 million.

It is a platform the 27-year-old Maher doesn’t take lightly.

While she publishes content that includes training sessions, some lighthearted moments and brushes with celebrities – including Super Bowl champion Jason Kelce and tennis star Coco Gauff – Maher isn’t afraid to speak her mind on serious issues.

One of those is body-shaming, an issue that sadly countless sportswomen continue to face.

In a social media video that has gone viral, Maher has spoken directly to an online troll that made a comment attempting to make fun of her weight.

“I bet that person has a 30% bmi,” they wrote, along with the cry laughing emoji.

Hilarious.

BMI, or body mass index, is a simple measure of body fat based on height and weight.

Maher’s response on TikTok is beyond brilliant as she tears strips off the nameless coward in a video that’s been viewed over 3.4 million times on one platform alone and sparked global support.

“I think you were trying to roast me,” Maher begins in a video you can see below.

“But this is actually a fact.

Ilona Maher, one of the most followed athletes at the Olympics, expertly corrects body shamers. Pictures: Instagram

“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, elementary school, high school, I’ve always been considered overweight.”

Maher then recalled an incident in high school when she had to return a physical test to the school office and at the bottom it said “overweight”.

“I was so embarrassed to turn that in and to have that written there,” she said.

“So my whole life I’ve been this way.

Maher is a tough prospect for opposition defences. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

“I chatted with my dietitian, because I go off facts and not just what pops off up here (as she points to her head), like you do.

“We talked about BMI and how it really isn't helpful to athletes. BMI doesn’t tell you much, it just tells you your height and weight and what that equals.

“I’ve said it before, I’m five-ten (178cm), 200 pounds (90kgs), and I have 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.

“It doesn’t tell you what I do on the field, how fit I am, it's just a couple of numbers put together.”

And then she finishes it off with the perfect take-down.

“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.”

Maher pulling off her trademark move against Brazil's Gabriela Lima in a Pool C group match in Paris. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

It’s not the first time Maher has addressed these issues.

She posted photos of herself in August last year with the caption “Dear girl with the big shoulders” before writing a series of powerful words like “you are not undesirable” and “you are not manly”, along with phrases like “you are beautiful” and “you are powerful”.

That post has been liked almost 170,000 times.

It only takes a quick look at Maher’s highlights on the field to see her power and athleticism.

Growing up playing soccer, softball and basketball, her dad suggested she try rugby when she was 17 and she hasn’t looked back.

Maher has drawn comparisons to NFL superstar Derrick Henry for her speed and power and ability to fend off opponents, her trademark move that’s become known as the “truck stick”.

Maher even has an Instagram story of Henry admiring her moves when shown a video during training for the Baltimore Ravens.

And she has drawn enormous praise for her stance over the BMI issue.

“Ilona Maher for VP – forget a debate with Vance; she can go one-on-one, last human standing wins,” was just one comment on social media.

“SHE IS AWESOME,” wrote another.

“Epic roast. Love it!” added another.

“I love her,” wrote a fourth.

Mahers is performing on the field as well as off it for her USA team, which overcame Great Britain in the quarter-finals in Paris to set up a semi-final with mighty New Zealand on Tuesday.

Originally published as Olympic social media sensation Ilona Maher responds to ‘overweight’ jab