Meet DWTS’ Ilona Maher’s family, who have been her support system

Ilona Maher became America’s sweetheart at the 2024 Paris Olympics as she delighted fans with her behind-the-scenes look at the elite sporting event and her hilarious videos about finding love in the Olympic Village.

The 28-year-old plays for the US rugby sevens team, which took home the bronze medal at the Games after their victory over Australia.

Ilona’s star power grew exponentially during the Olympics thanks to her hilarious videos and openness about mental health and body positivity, even earning her a spot on Dancing with the stars competition this year.

The athlete has made it all the way to the final round with her partner, Alan Bersten, but not without the support of her loving family, including her two sisters.

Her family has been by her side not only for the reality show, but also for every sporting event and game leading up to the Olympics.

Join HELLO! as we discover all about Ilona’s loving family and how they have steadfastly stood by the Olympian.

Olivia Maher

The eldest of the Maher daughters is Olivia, who was born in 1994; she is a popular figure on social media and even coined the viral term ‘girls dinner’ which hit the internet in 2023.

During an interview with PeopleIlona picked up her sister and gushed, “This is the inventor of Girl Dinner. She’s my manager, my boss, my everything. She does it all.” Olivia works in television; she has been an assistant on Apple TV+ Dickinson and worked in production at Peacock’s Girls 5eva.

Ilona’s sisters are always the first to proclaim their pride for her, even donning merchandise with her face on for her games. “They are so supportive,” she shared People. “They want to go all over the world and watch me play rugby and wear the weirdest shirts or scream the loudest and do the funniest things.”

Adrianna Maher

Ilona’s younger sister was born in 1999, making her three years younger than the DWTS contestant.

Adrianna works for a human rights organization in New York and is always by her sister’s side when she needs support.

“The first people I go to are definitely my sisters,” Ilona added People. “I hope that means I’m still in this room and I can travel and I hope my sisters come with me to do it.”

Mieneke Maher

The rugby star’s mother is a Dutch native who couldn’t be prouder of all her daughter’s incredible achievements.

“I have the honor of being the mother of three amazing children, but I also have the extra, you know, mark of being an Olympian’s mother, (which is very cool),” the nurse shared. WCAX in July. “Having Ilona be an advocate for mental health, ultimately, you know, body positivity… I think it’s amazing,” she said.

Although unable to be in the stands for Ilona’s Olympic debut at the 2020 Games in Tokyo due to COVID-19 restrictions, Mieneke could not contain her excitement at the prospect of being there for her performance in Paris.

“Just watching the team and your daughter run out onto the field is exciting,” she told the paper. “I get very nervous because you always want the very best for your child.”

Michael Maher

Michael is the patriarch of the Maher family and was the one who introduced Ilona to his beloved sport. As a former rugby player himself, he encouraged his sporty daughter to try something new. “In the spring of my senior year (in high school), I felt like I was done with softball,” she shared Forbes in 2023. “I had done winter pitching clinics, done my time in the outfield. I was just tired of not having as much movement.”

After trying rugby for the first time, she was in love. “I scored three tries and had a couple of tackles straight after that,” she continued. “My father will tell you; he was so hyped about it.”

Ilona is a staunch activist for mental health and body positivity, thanks in part to Michael standing up for his daughter during her childhood. Olivia told one more story Seven days about her sister’s Little League game. “There was some kind of commotion on the second field,” she said.

“(Ilona) was singing it in there and this guy yelled, ‘Tell her to slow down; nobody can beat anything!’ Then my father spoke up.”

“I know what Ilona got out of it,” she concluded. “Never tone yourself down.”