PARIS (AP) — Ilona Maher often uses TikTok and Instagram to bring attention to the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team.
He took matters into his own hands at the Olympics on Sunday, edging out a defender on a solo run to the dryline, one of the biggest highlights of his team’s opening win over Japan.
One of the social media stars of the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, who poked fun at rural life for athletes during the pandemic, Maher knows that winning a medal at the Paris Games will boost the brand significantly.
Recently retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce said he was there watching — a day after the NFL veteran. and his wife, Kylie, participated in girls field hockey Maher considered the match between the United States and Argentina – a great recruiting opportunity.
„Hopefully he can see that rugby sevens is no different to soccer and he can bring it some attention in America,” Maher said.
The top four ranked teams secured two wins each on Sunday to book their place in the quarter-finals, with defending champions New Zealand leading Pool A following losses to China and Canada, 2016 gold medalists Australia dominating Group B and the United States and France unbeaten. Pool C clash on Monday.
There were plenty of eye-catching moments in the first three days of the women’s tournament.
Rahul Kochan is a breast cancer survivor Treating his return to the Brazil team this season is to play in his third Olympics.
Maddison Levy scored four tries, including three in the first half, in Australia’s 34-5 opener against South Africa. He added three more in a 36-5 win over Britain. For good measure, her sister Deegan Levy scored once in each game to bring the family tally to nine.
Michaela Flyte scored four tries in New Zealand’s 43-5 win over China, but she was left out of the 33-7 win over Canada before being substituted in the second half.
China bounced back from their opening defeat with a 40-12 shock win over Fiji, scoring six tries against the bronze medalists at the Tokyo Olympics.
The French women beat Brazil 26-0, a day after France won the men’s gold medal with a seven-try thrashing of Japan 49-0. Antoine Dupont scored two tries A 28-7 win over two-time champions Fiji.
The competition continues on Monday with the group stage and quarter-finals concluded, and the medal matches on Tuesday.
Maher has already made a point of revealing her posts on social media about strong, athletic women.
In the second half of a 36–7 win over Japan, he ran around two defenders and left Hanako Utsumi on an 80-metre run with a left-handed feint. He then waved to a section of American fans in the crowd. He scored again in a 24–5 win over Brazil.
„It’s so important to have a profile and a profile for our sport,” Maher said of her million-plus followers on Instagram. „We’re female rugby players – we don’t get million-dollar contracts, we don’t get paid what we’re supposed to.”
„My friends and I are eager to get the game out there and get noticed,” he added. „The sport is very strong, not only for men, but also for women.”
Kochan wanted her Olympic comeback to be an inspiration to other women.
„Being here and playing for Brazil is a big win for me,” said Gochan, recalling all the support he received during his long absence from the pitch. „So it’s not just for me, it’s for all my teammates. It’s like a big family.
„My mission is to show other women that cancer can be a process, it’s not the end. It’s how you deal with the situation that makes the biggest difference.
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
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