Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher scores Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover: ‘Strength is beautiful’

Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher is the star of the September 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit digital edition. Sports Illustrated/Ben Watts

She’s winning the gold medal for this cover.

Rugby player Ilona Maher became one of the standout stars of the 2024 Paris Olympics after she led the U.S. women’s team to its first bronze finish at the games — and now she’s celebrating by starring on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s September digital issue.

The 28-year-old olympian models an asymmetrical brown Myra Swim top ($120) and matching Brazilian-cut bottom ($110) as she poses on a dock in the stunning cover, shot in Belport, NY by Ben Watts.

Maher is the newest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover girl, posing for its September 2024 digital edition. Sports Illustrated/Ben Watts

Maher posed in a bright blue string bikini in one of her SI Swimsuit shots. Sports Illustrated/Ben Watts

She posed with her bronze medal and a shimmering bikini for the mag. Instagram/Ilona Maher

“When we say #beastbeautybrains THIS is what we mean. 💋” the magazine captioned its Instagram post Wednesday, quoting Maher’s personal motto.

SI Swimsuit continued that the rugby star was “breaking the stereotype of what it means to be a female athlete. 💪.”

She showed off her toned figure in plenty of bikinis and one-pieces for the shoot and according to the mag, one of her bikinis paid homage to her bronze medalist status.

She held her bronze medal on a New York beach for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s September 2024 issue. Instagram/Ilona Maher

Maher celebrated on the field during the 2024 Paris Olympics. REUTERS

She wore a chic bandeau top and trousers to a screening of “A League Of Their Own” on August 4. Getty Images for Prime Video

The Vermont native — who got support from retired NFL star Jason Kelce during the games — sported a shimmering metallic Monday Swimwear top ($112 $84) and matching bottom ($80 $60) in the same hue as her Olympic medal, giving a nod to her success at the summer games.

In her SI Swimsuit interview, Maher explained that even though she was “called masculine or whatever” growing up, she “never felt that way,” adding, “But I don’t think you’re going to bully the girl who could probably beat you up in a rage.”

She also said “sports have been so helpful” when it came to body image, sharing, “If my cellulite was lower in that perfect range, I wouldn’t be doing what I could do.”

Fans couldn’t get enough of the newest SI cover girl, like one who wrote, “thank you for showing our girls that beauty IS strength and strength IS beautiful!!”

The athlete led the U.S. women’s national team to bronze medal victory this summer. Getty Images

The bronze medal winner is a fan of bright lipstick. Getty Images for USOPC

“How I wish this cover existed when I was a teenager!!” another added. “My life would have been so different.”

“Yesssssss 🔥🔥🔥” Alix Earle added, while gymnast Aly Raisman wrote, “Congrats!!!! Stunning ❤️”

At the end of the day, Maher told SI Swimsuit that rugby gave her confidence, sharing, “It showed me how capable my body is and it’s not just like a tool to be looked at and objectified.”