summer olympic Ilona Maher understands the double-edged sword of supporting Team USA in the 2026 Winter Games despite a divisive political climate at home.
“When I say, ‘Go to America!’ I am not condoning what is happening in my country,” Maher, 29, wrote Instagram on Tuesday, February 10. “I say, ‘Go to the US!’ for all the athletes who I think are a beautiful representation of what America should be. Those who follow a dream like many of their ancestors who dreamed of a better life and came to America for it.”
She continued, “I say, ‘Go USA’ because I know the hours put in not only by the athletes, but also by the communities of America that made them great.”
Maher, whose national rugby sevens team won the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is among the content creators. at the Milano Cortina Games.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images Olympian Ilona Maher has impressed with her rugby prowess and her online catches. Maher, 27, started playing rugby in high school before making a name for herself as a college athlete. She finally caught the attention of coaches Richie Walker and Emilie Bydwell, who chose her to join (…)
“I say to myself, ‘GO TO USA,’ in the hope that we will become a country that doesn’t just say ‘love thy neighbor,’ but embodies it,” his statement concluded.
The Winter Olympics have taken place at the same time as a widespread political division in the national territory, which many athletes have also recognized it while standing proud of the American flag and the national anthem after winning medals.
“It’s been a difficult time for the community at large in this administration,” said the Team USA figure skater Amber Glenn she said at a press conference in February when asked about the representation of the LGBTQIA+ community. “It is not the first time that we have to come together as a community and try to fight for our human rights.”
He continued, “And now, especially, it’s not just affecting the queer community, but many other communities. I think we’re able to support each other in a way that we didn’t have to before, and because of that, it’s made us a lot stronger.”
According to Glenn, 26, he is not afraid to share his political beliefs.
“I hope I can use my platform and my voice during these Games to try to encourage people to stay strong in these difficult times,” Glenn, who identifies as pansexual, told reporters earlier this month. “I know a lot of people say, ‘You’re just a sportsman, like, get on with your job, shut up about politics,’ but politics affects us all.”
He then added: “It’s something I’m not going to shut up about because it’s something that affects us in our everyday lives. So of course there are things I don’t agree with, but as a community, we’re strong and we support each other, and there are brighter days ahead.”
Glenn, however, has since claimed that got “hate” to express their opinions.
“Now I’m getting a scary amount of hate/threats for simply using my voice when asked how I feel,” Glenn wrote via his Instagram stories on Saturday, February 7th. “I anticipated it, but I’m disappointed. I’ll limit my time on social media for now for my own well-being. But, I’ll never stop using my voice for what I believe in.”
vice president of the usa JD Vancewho attended the Games with his family, has since issued a message to athletes who become political between their events.
“Yeah, you’re going to have some Olympic athletes talking about politics,” Vance, 41, said. CNN. “I think that happens at every Olympics. My advice to them is you try to bring the country together, and when you represent the country, you represent Democrats and Republicans. You’re there to play a sport, and you’re there to represent your country and hopefully win a medal. You’re not there to get out of politics.”