U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher will start for the Bristol Bears on Saturday after missing a game last week because of a facial injury.

From Paris 2024 and the SI Swimsuit cover to “Dancing with the Stars” and a contract with the Bristol Bears, Ilona Maher’s life has changed dramatically in less than a year. She tells CNN how it feels to become “America’s sweetheart.

Maher included a video of herself holding up a bag of ice to her face. She also lip-synched, “Been better, Carrie Ann.” (The athlete previously said the phrase last year after Dancing With The Stars judge Inaba asked why Maher was crying after she received tough feedback on her performance.)

Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher is on the mend after a rough collision during a recent match with her new team, the Bristol Bears.

Rugby star Ilona Maher is laughing through the pain as she continues to recover from a broken nose sustained during her first home start with the Bristol Bears. The Olympic bronze

Rugby player Ilona Maher recently suffered from what she referred to as a “lil knock” on the pitch, resulting in a broken nose. Now, the Olympian is opening up about how people are reacting to her visible injury, using her signature sense of humor to bring some levity to a painful situation.