mindbodygreen: What meals make you feel strongest?
Ilona Maher:I don’t feel bad about eating.
I’ve been training my mind and training myself to [get to that mindset].
Even being a professional athletebut I think all women experience thiswe deal with eating and our bodies.
The meals feel good when I know I need this food to fuel myself.
I’m more about function versus form.
Because right now I’m supposed to be big.
I’m supposed to be powerful.
And I’m using these meals to do it.
But myfavoritemeals have to be the ones that my mom makes.
It’s what I grew up on.
It’s what kind of made me into the athlete I am today.
She can cook a steak like no one else, and she makes this chicken satay that’s amazing.
I would say that’s my favorite.
mbg: How do you mentally prepare for a game?
Maher:It’s interesting because I try not to let rugby control my mind the whole time.
When people are like, “Oh, how do you do social media with the rugby?”
I think sometimes it can be a nice escape.
But to get into the game, before it starts, I do have to amp myself up.
It’s such a hard sport.
I feel so tired constantly.
I’m getting beat up out there.
And we play in these hot places.
This is a very hard sport, and I’m so honored that I can do it."
It kind of puts it into perspective when I’m tired.
It’s also about connecting with my teammates and getting to do this with my best buddies.
mbg: What’s the most intense thing you’ve ever tried to optimize your performance?
Maher:I don’t know if this is really intense, but heat training.
Preparing yourself to be able to perform in that environment starts back home.
So even now I do heat acclimation just to prepare myself for summer in Paris.
Or we get into a hot tub with our sweatpants on.
mbg: How do you rebound after a tough game?
Maher:That’s been something I’ve definitely been learning, like constantly.
It never gets easier, but you learn how to deal with it better in a way.
After we lose, one thing I focus on is connecting with my teammates.
It’s important to remember that no one moment loses a game for us.
We have so many moments throughout a game, and it’s never that one moment.
You’re not out there alone, and you’re not losing on your own.
You’re losing with this other group of women who are going through the same stuff.
mbg: I wanted to ask you about teammates anyway.
So what makes a good teammate?
How do you show up for your teammates?
Maher:I think what’s fun about being on a team is having those different personalities around you.
You don’t want all the same athletes out there.
Being a good teammate is also about helping others rise up as well.
I give a shot to bring them into any video I can or encourage them to post.
It’s about lifting up others, lifting my teammates, and making them feel good.
You mentioned earlier that it’s about finding a balance between the twohow do you find that balance?
Maher:I’ve almosthadto find a balance.
And after the [Tokyo] Olympics, I realized,Oh this is how I can do that.
I have to use this tool to my advantage.
It’s a very vulnerable state, but you have to put yourself out there.
It’s scary sometimes, but I view it asThis is how I make this career sustainable.
But I want to make this my career long term.
And for a lot of sports, that stops girls from playing.
Those misconceptions stop people from playing sports.
They stop people from really understanding what their body’s capable of.
Sports give your body a purpose that’s not just to be looked at and objectified.
I think sports give you an appreciation for your body.
They’re still both very exciting games to watch."
So to show that you’re able to be confident in both sides of yourself is really valuable.
Speaking of embracing different sides of yourself: I know you love beauty products.
What products do you love using right now?
Maher:I’ve been usingMedalist, which is a new brand that’s by athletes for athletes.
It’s been really helpful for my pregame, pre-practice, and after-practice routine.
Athletes come in truly all shapes and sizes and need their skin care routines!
In what moments do you find that childlike joy again?
Maher:It’s funny, before practices, we’ll play fun games.
It’s literally grown womenyou know, some in our late 20s or 30splaying tag with each other.
We’re laughing and giggling.
But that brings me back to like why I love it.
