Ilona Maher does not ‘condon’ US actions at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Summer Olympian Ilona Maher understands the double-edged sword of supporting Team USA at the 2026 Winter Games despite a divided political climate at home.
“If I say, ‘Go to the US!’ I will not tolerate what is happening in my country,” 29-year-old Maher wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, February 10. “I say, ‘Go USA!’ for all the athletes who I think are a great 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 by the communities across America that raised them to be great.”
Maher, whose national rugby sevens team won the bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, is one of the content creators at the Milano Cortina Games.
“I say ‘GO USA’ in the hope that we will become a country that not only says ‘love your neighbor’ but actually embodies it,” she concluded her statement.
The Winter Olympics took place at the same time that there was widespread political division on home turf, which many athletes also acknowledged, taking pride in the American flag and national anthem as they won medals.
“It’s been a difficult time for the community as a whole in this administration,” Team USA figure skater Amber Glenn said at a press conference in February when asked if he represented the LGBTQIA+ community. “It’s not the first time we’ve had to come together as a community and try to fight for our human rights.”
She continued, “And now it’s especially affecting not just the queer community, but a lot of other communities. I think we’re able to support each other in a way that we didn’t have to before, and we’ve become a lot stronger because of it.”
According to 26-year-old Glenn, she is not afraid to share her political beliefs.
“I hope I can use my platform and my voice during these Games to encourage people to stay strong during these difficult times,” Glenn, who identifies as pansexual, told reporters earlier this month. “I know a lot of people say, ‘You’re just an athlete, stick to your job and shut up about politics,’ but politics affects us all.”
She added at the time: “It’s something I’m not just going to keep quiet about because it’s something that affects us in our daily lives. So of course there are things I don’t agree with, but as a community we are strong and we support each other, and better days lie ahead.”
However, Glenn has since claimed she received ‘hate’ for expressing her views.
“I am receiving a frightening amount of hate/threats right now for simply using my voice when asked how I feel,” Glenn wrote on Saturday, February 7, via her Instagram Stories. “I expected this, but I’m disappointed. I will limit my time on social media for my own well-being for now. But I will never stop using my voice for what I believe in.”
US Vice President J.D. Vancewho attended the Games with his family, has since sent a message to athletes who get political between their events.
“Yes, you will have some Olympic athletes talking about politics,” Vance, 41, said CNN. “I feel like this happens every Olympics. My advice to them would be to try to bring the country together, and when you represent the country, you represent the 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 talk politics.”
